Marcos thanks ASEAN member-states that helped PH during tropical cyclones

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed gratitude to member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that helped the Philippines following the onslaught of recent tropical cyclones.

"Nais kong muling pasalamatan ang ating mga kasamahan sa ASEAN na nagpadala po ng tulong. Kagaya ng ibang lugar, tinamaan din sila ng bagyo ngunit binigyan pa rin tayo ng tulong," Marcos said during the distribution of assistance in Camarines Sur.

(I want to thank other ASEAN member-states who sent help. They were also hit by tropical cyclones but they still helped us.)

"Kaya't nagpadala sila ng eroplano, nagpadala sila ng gamit. Pati na rin ang pribadong sektor na handang umagapay sa pagpapalawig ng mga proyekto ng pamahalaan," he added.

(They sent air assets and supplies. Even the private sector was ready to help expand the rollout of government projects.)

The Presidential Communications Office said Singapore had sent a C-130 aircraft to the Philippines to support search and retrieval operations after the Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) while Indonesia provided an H225M Caracal and an MI-17-V5 Helicopter.

Malaysia, meanwhile, sent a Eurocapter EC-725 while Brunei Darussalam dispatched a C-295 aircraft and two S-70i helicopters.

The PCO added that Singapore also carried out eight "humanitarian goods sorties" along with nine from Malaysia; 10 from Brunei Darussalam; and 13 from Indonesia.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) earlier said Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia pledged to lend C-130 aircraft, large choppers, among other air assets to help the Philippines deliver relief supplies to Kristine-hit communities.

To recall, Marcos personally called Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to thank his government's assistance to the Philippines after it was battered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

"The air support they provided allowed us to reach areas that are still struggling with severe flooding, bringing relief to families who otherwise couldn’t be reached," Marcos had said in a statement. — VDV, GMA Integrated News