04 December 2013 - Secretary Albert F. del Rosario received a LifeStraw Family water filtration device from Ambassador Roberto Carlos Villarino of Panama.  The Government of Panama has donated 8,000 units of the LifeStraw Family water filtration system for the families in the areas affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).  Each LifeStraw Family unit is capable of producing 18,000 liters of clean filtered water for the device’s estimated lifespan of three (3) years.  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the pick-up of the water filtration units from the airport and the distribution of the units to the intended recipient families.

Secretary del Rosario also received a letter from President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli hand-carried by Ambassador Villarino.  The letter, addressed to President Benigno S. Aquino III, expresses Panama’s solidarity with the Filipino people in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). END