HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Saturday thanked the United States government for extending an additional ₱13.8 million ($250,000) in emergency shelter assistance and hygiene kits to 3,000 Filipino families affected by severe flooding brought by southwest monsoon rains in July.
Romualdez said the supplemental aid reflects the strong and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the US, noting that the gesture underscores the continuing solidarity of the country’s oldest ally during times of crisis.
“This latest humanitarian support from the US government is a testament to our long-standing friendship and shared commitment to helping each other in times of adversity,” the Speaker said.
The assistance will provide affected families with temporary shelter materials and essential hygiene supplies as they recover from the damages caused by the recent floods.
On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced the additional funding, which will provide emergency shelter materials and hygiene kits to approximately 15,000 individuals still staying in evacuation centers in the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan and Pampanga.
With this supplemental assistance, the total U.S. humanitarian support for disaster response efforts in the Philippines now amounts to ₱27.6 million ($500,000).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will distribute the shelter-grade tarpaulins, repair kits, and essential household items to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
Each kit includes basic construction tools and materials to enable households to begin rebuilding.
Hygiene kits—consisting of soap, buckets and cleaning supplies—will also be distributed, while the IOM will monitor sanitation conditions in evacuation centers to help prevent the spread of disease.
U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Y. Robert Ewing said the United States is grateful to work with key partners such as the IOM, the World Food Programme (WFP), the DSWD and the Office of Civil Defense to “help affected families recover and rebuild.”
Previously, the U.S. government provided another ₱13.8 million ($250,000) in assistance through the WFP, enabling the delivery of 47,700 family food packs to more than 200,000 beneficiaries across Northern and Central Luzon. U.S. military aircraft also supported the Armed Forces of the Philippines in delivering 6,300 food packs to 18,000 individuals in Batanes.
Speaker Romualdez urged the DSWD to ensure the efficient and transparent distribution of the latest assistance.
“We ask the DSWD to prioritize low-income households, especially those with senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and young children. These families need urgent support as they rebuild amid the ongoing rainy season,” he said.
He also called on other government agencies and local government units to complement the U.S. aid by ensuring that families in evacuation centers have access to clean, safe hygiene and sanitation facilities.
“We must also do our part in caring for our displaced kababayans. Ensuring their health and safety in evacuation centers is essential, especially as we continue to deal with the impacts of climate change,” Romualdez emphasized.
“Our alliance with the U.S. 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,” he added.
About the Author
