Army welcomes visit of ADB head Asakawa

April 6, 2020

 In light with the Philippine Army and Asian Development Bank’s COVID-19 relief response cooperation, the Army  welcomed ADB President’s visit on Monday.

Lt. Gen. Gilbert  Gapay, Army commanding general,  toured and presented to ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and his group, the repacking system of  relief goods at the grandstand of Philippine Army headquarters.

The ADB, through the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local government units, shall distribute family food packs (FFP)  to the target beneficiaries in Metro Manila.

On April 4, the Philippine Army gave 4,613 FFPs to 3,075 households of Brgy Hulong Duhat, Malabon City.

Army Vice Commander Maj. Gen Reynaldo Aquino accompanied  Asakawa in Barangay Pinagsama, Taguig City to see  the distribution of 3,500 FFPs to the beneficiaries.

Each FFP contains 10 kilograms of rice, 36 assorted canned goods, and 20 sachets of milk and coffee.

Ramesh Subramaniam, director general of the ADB Southeast Asia Regional Department; Hermogenes  Esperon Jr., National Security Adviser and Director General; and Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr. were also with Asakawa.

According to Asakawa the ADB’s endeavor, which is part of ADB's supported  BayanBayanihan program, intends to aid poor communities especially in this time of crisis.

Gapay also expressed his gratitude to ADB saying, “We will efficiently repack and distribute the ADB donated goods as fast as possible so it will reach our countrymenb who are most affected during these challenging times." DMS