22 January 2014 – The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan’s ruling political party, turned over yesterday a donation of JP¥ 10,589,775 (approximately Php 4.6 million) in support of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez.
LDP members from all over Japan contributed to the donation, which was handed over by Representative Ito Tatsuya, member of the House of Representatives (Tokyo-22nd District) and Director-General of the LDP’s International Bureau, during his visit to the Philippine Embassy.
Representative Tatsuya was accompanied by LDP International Bureau Vice Director Hiroshi Uchida. The LDP official conveyed the Party’s sympathies to the families of hit by the calamity, and vowed the Party’s unswerving support for continued Japanese government assistance efforts to support relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in affected areas. “We remember with gratitude the help extended by the Philippines to us after the Great East Japan Earthquake, so the LDP organized this fundraising,” said Representative Tatsuya.
Ambassador Lopez thanked the LDP and its leadership, led by its President, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for the donation. The Ambassador expressed the sincere gratitude of the Filipino nation for all of the assistance received by typhoon victims from Japan, citing the various forms of financial assistance extended by the Japanese Government, its prompt dispatch of Japanese Disaster Relief Teams and units of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to the Visayas, as well as donations received from private companies and individual donors.
“Japan has been very helpful amidst all these challenges,” said the Ambassador. “I thank the LDP on behalf of the Philippine Government and the grateful communities in the affected areas, whose lives have been touched by Japan’s unremitting support.” END