PinoyBusiness.ORG – Home

The Philippines received more international assistance for the victims of tropical storm Ondoy. This time, it’s from the European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union, who has given 2 million euros or equivalent to about P140 million. This is so far the biggest amount of international help that the country has received.

EC president Jose Manuel Barroso, in his letter to Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo where he offered his personal and the EC’s sincere condolence, sympathy and  solidarity to the families of Ondoy victims said, “It is with great sadness that I learned about the tragic consequences of the typhoon Ondoy, and in particular of the loss of life as a consequence of the severity of the rainfall.”

Barroso also said that he has immediately dispatched an expert team to assess the humanitarian needs of the victims of the storm.

Alistair MacDonald, EU Ambassador to the Philippines, who was himself shocked at the effects of the typhoon said, “What I saw across Manila at the weekend, on television and with my own eyes, was a shocking illustration of how quickly a storm can bring tragedy in its wake. The volume of water brought by Ondoy has stretched the coping capacity of the affected towns and cities to the utmost, and the EC, together with other international partners, has responded quickly to the government’s appeal.”

Australia also donated earlier to the Philippines A$1 million (about P40 million), together with Japan who gave $220,000 of goods (or about P10.34 million), China gave $130,000 (about P6.6 million); and the United States donated $100,000 (or about P4.7 million). Likewise the United Nations pledged to support the Philippines as it recovers from the damaged brought by Ondoy.

Fund drive and relief operations continue for the victims of the tropical storm.