MANILA: The European Union (EU) is allocating €2.5m or P148m for the victims of the earthquake that struck Central Visayas on October 15.
“We have seen the destruction and suffering caused by the powerful earthquake,“ EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said yesterday.
“We stand by the people of the Philippines in this hour of need and this EU assistance reaffirms our commitment to immediately respond to the needs of the families affected by the disaster.”
The donation would be used to provide shelter, water and sanitation and primary health needs of the victims and management of evacuation sites.
Ledoux said two humanitarian aid experts – Torben Bruhn, regional health coordinator of ECHO based in Bangkok, and Arlynn Aquino, humanitarian aid officer in the Philippines – visited the towns of Calape, Maribojoc and Loon in Bohol on October 17 and 18 to assess the priority needs of affected residents.
The experts noted that most of the houses collapsed and access to services was difficult.
Roads and bridges were blocked, damaged or collapsed, power lines were cut and water supplies were destroyed.
The EU also provided three million euros in February to assist the victims of Typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.
It also donated €200,000 to the victims of Typhoon Maring and €300,000 to the victims of the recent violence in Zamboanga.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman also received yesterday a check for $100,000 from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) for earthquake victims.
Soliman accepted the donation from TECO representative Raymond LS Wang during a simple ceremony at the DSWD central office in Quezon City.
“The strong ties and solidarity between the Philippines and Taiwan is very evident.
“You are not only the closest neighbour of the Philippines and a good trade partner, but more importantly, you are always ready to help us when we need it most,” the DSWD chief said as she accepted the donation.
Soliman and Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief representative in the Philippines Takahiro Sasaki also signed yesterday a deed of donation for relief items amounting to ¥38m.
The Philippine star
