Friday, June 25, 2010

News update EU grants RP EUR 4 million more for typhoon assistance

The European Commission (EC) has approved an additional grant of EUR 4 million (about P226.7 million) in humanitarian assistance for the victims of tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng which hit the Philippines last year.

This is on top of the EUR 9 million (approximately P510 million) initial assistance in October and November 2009, bringing the total contribution of the European Union at EUR 23 million (approximately P1.33 billion).

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the new funding will be allocated to activities carried out with international organizations including non-government organizations, in a release posted on its website.

These activities include providing assistance such as material for transitional shelters and housing repairs, improvements of water and sanitation facilities, food and cash for work programs, and basic agricultural inputs.

Up to 100,000 individuals will benefit from these activities, the release stated.

Including the new grant, the duration of humanitarian actions will last for 18 months.

The release further noted that as usual, the funding will be managed by the EC's Directorate-General for Humanitarian Assistance for Civilian Protection.

The two disasters brought about a combined cost of damage amounting to P38 billion, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board.

Estimated damage to infrastructure was at P11.1 billion, while damage to agriculture was estimated at P27.2 billion.—JMA/JV