Manila: House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed his gratitude to the United States government for its additional allocation of PHP13.8 million (USD250,000) in emergency shelter assistance and hygiene kits for 3,000 Filipino families affected by severe flooding due to the southwest monsoon in July. This assistance is seen as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States.
According to Philippines News Agency, the US Embassy in Manila announced on Friday the additional funding, which aims to provide emergency shelter materials and hygiene kits to approximately 15,000 individuals currently residing in evacuation centers in the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga. This latest contribution raises the total US humanitarian support for disaster response efforts in the Philippines to PHP27.6 million (USD500,000).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will be responsible for distributing shelter-grade tarpaulins, repair kits, and essential household items to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Each kit is equipped with basic construction tools and materials to assist households in rebuilding. Additionally, hygiene kits containing soap, buckets, and cleaning supplies will be distributed, while the IOM will oversee sanitation conditions in evacuation centers to prevent disease outbreaks.
US Embassy Charg© d’Affaires ad interim Y. Robert Ewing expressed gratitude for the collaboration with key partners such as the IOM, the World Food Program (WFP), the DSWD, and the Office of Civil Defense to aid affected families in their recovery and rebuilding efforts. Previously, the US government had provided PHP13.8 million (USD250,000) through the WFP, facilitating the delivery of 47,700 family food packs to over 200,000 beneficiaries in Northern and Central Luzon. Additionally, US military aircraft had supported the Armed Forces of the Philippines in delivering 6,300 food packs to 18,000 individuals in Batanes.
Romualdez urged the DSWD to ensure efficient and transparent distribution of the latest assistance, emphasizing the need to prioritize low-income households, particularly those with senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and young children. Highlighting the US-Philippines alliance, he remarked, “Our alliance with the US extends beyond defense and economic cooperation. It is a relationship built on genuine compassion and friendship. Time and again, the United States has stood by us in our greatest times of need, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
