AID. US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson (3rd from right) leads the handover of emergency relief supplies to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (3rd from left) and OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno (2nd from left). Also in the photo are USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn (right), International Organization for Migration Philippines Head of Programs Euan McDougall (2nd from right) and US Embassy Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Col. Edward Evans (left). (Photo courtesy of the US Embassy in Manila)
MANILA – The United States government has donated emergency relief supplies to an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Nueva Ecija as part of its efforts to boost the country’s disaster preparedness, the US Embassy in Manila said Wednesday.
The supplies, provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), were turned over by US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno in a ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Sept. 23.
Carlson said this donation “demonstrates how EDCA sites like Fort Magsaysay strengthen the Philippines’ humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness efforts”.
“The US government remains committed to supporting the Philippines as it builds its national and local capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters,” she said.
The supplies provided include emergency shelter-grade tarpaulins, shelter repair tools, and kitchen sets.
The embassy said these can support at least 10,000 people and will be stored at the OCD warehouse at Fort Magsaysay to facilitate the Philippine government’s rapid delivery of life-saving assistance.
Teodoro thanked the US government as he underscored the strong alliance between the two countries.
“The Philippines and the United States have a strong alliance. This alliance is demonstrated not just through words but through concrete actions of cooperation,” he said.
The US also aids the Philippines’ disaster response efforts by bolstering its community-based disaster risk reduction, providing disaster response training, and strengthening collaboration between Philippine and US civilian, military, and humanitarian agencies.
Since 2010, the US government, through USAID, has provided nearly PHP19.6 billion (USD344 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid and boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity across the country. (PNA)
