Last Thursday, officials of the government released a statement saying that the rescue and relief mission that supposed to be sent to Japan to help the victims of earthquake and tsunami has been aborted; instead the government will be sending relief goods.
Reports said that the Japanese government has rejected the Philippines offer to provide rescue (–foul word(s) removed–)istance to Japan’s northeastern region which was badly affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Benito Ramos executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has strongly denied this issue and said that if we were rejected, then the relief goods would be rejected as well.
Media asked Ramos the reason behind the change of plans, but he refuses to answer and said that it’s best for media to direct that question to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a news briefing held at Camp Aguinaldo, Ramos said “The DFA would be the agency to explain what caused the cancellation. I don’t want to second-guess. I’m just following instruction from the DFA”.
He also said that he did not feel bad about the aborted mission and he understand the sensitivities of the Japanese people due to what happened to them.
A statement has been released by the Japanese government last week saying that rescue missions coming from other nations should be well equipped, self-sufficient and can protect themselves from possible effect of radiation.
The relief goods that would be sent to Japan is said to be worth 1.3 million pesos which is prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Philippine airlines will be carrier of the relief goods.
The distribution of the reliefs will be managed by the six members of search and rescue team party which the Armed Forces of the Philippines has sent to Japan few days ago.
The six are going to be working with the emb(–foul word(s) removed–)y officials of Japan and after they have finished there mission they will fly back home.