20 March 2014- Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega toured the facilities of Direct Relief, a leading medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Southern California on March 5.

Consul General De La Vega was joined in the tour by the members of Philippine Disaster Relief Organization (PeDRO).

Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe gave Consul General De La Vega and PeDRO a briefing on its operations and how they responded to relief efforts in the affected areas of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.  Direct Relief provided US$ 4 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to typhoon-affected communities.  Meanwhile, PeDRO is exploring the possibility of an associate volunteer partnership to help victims of natural disasters in the Philippines.

Direct Relief is a non-profit, non-partisan organization providing medical assistance to people around the world affected by poverty, natural disasters, and civil unrest. The organization receives generous material and financial contributions from individuals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical equipment manufacturers. Direct Relief can work with healthcare professionals and organizations on the ground and equip them with the essential medical supplies and equipment needed to recover from a disaster. END