National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. deeply appreciated the provincial government of Sulu for sending relief goods to help victims of recent storms in Luzon get back up on their feet.

In a video shared by the DND to reporters on Saturday, July 26, Teodoro said the donations consisted of 2,000 sacks of rice and 1,000 boxes of noodles were sent by Sulu Vice governor and Officer-in-Charge Abdusakur Mahail Tan.

“Sa ngalan po ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of Civil Defense, at lahat po ng ahensya, sa ngalan po ng ating Pangulo, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga tao at mga kababayan natin sa lalawigan ng Sulu sa pangunguna ng ating Gobernador Abdusakur Mahail Tan sa kanilang donasyon na 2,000 sako ng bigas at 1,000 kaon ng noodles para ho sa mga biktima nitong nakaraang mga bagyo at ang mga biktima ng pagbabaha at iba pong nasalanta,” Teodoro said.

(On behalf of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense, and all agencies, and on behalf of our President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we express our gratitude to our fellow Filipinos in the province of Sulu, led by our Governor Abdusakur Mahail Tan, for their donation of 2,000 sacks of rice and 1,000 boxes of noodles for the victims of the recent typhoons, flooding, and other affected individuals.)

According to Teodoro, Tan did not hesitate to lend an arm for his fellow Filipinos who suffered from the wrath of recent storms “Crising”, “Dante”, “Emong” and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).

What struck him the most was the urgency and sincerity of the gesture, which he stressed was done without fanfare or condition.

“Si Governor Tan po ay kaagad-agad na, wala pong hiling, nagvolunteer po na magbigay ang mga tao ng Sulu sa kanyang pangunguna ng nasabi pong mga relief goods on the first day na tumama po ang weather disturbance,” the defense chief noted.

(Governor Tan immediately volunteered, without asking for anything in return, leading the people of Sulu in donating the said relief goods on the very first day the weather disturbance struck.)

The donations were transported via a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft from Jolo, Sulu to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Friday night, July 25.

The donations are part of a larger contribution initiated by Tan which totals 2,000 sacks of rice (25 kg each) and 1,000 boxes of food items. The remaining goods were scheduled for transport via a second C-130 flight on Saturday.

“Kami po nagpapasalamat sa kanilang pagpapakita ng solidaridad at pakikiisa at pakikiramay sa atin pong mga biktima. Mabuhay po kayo, mga kapatid nating taga-Sulu. Magsukul. Thank you (We express our gratitude for their show of solidarity, unity, and sympathy with our victims. Long live our brothers and sisters from Sulu. Magsukul [thank you in Tausug language]. Thank you),” Teodoro stated.

The three storms and habagat have affected 5.2 million individuals or 1.4 million families across 17 regions. More than 310,000 individuals were also displaced, including 201,000 persons who were staying in 1,783 evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the death toll increased to 30, seven remained missing while 10 others were hurt.

A nationwide relief effort has been conducted by the national government to hasten recovery in the affected areas.