By Roy Mabasa
The United States government has announced an additional P37.3 million assistance for the families who were affected by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) in the provinces of Benguet and Cagayan.
The U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission John C. Law addresses media representatives, partners, and landslide-affected families in Itogon, Benguet. The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development, is providing Php37.3 million in new assistance for families that lost their homes and livelihoods during Typhoon Ompong in Benguet and Cagayan provinces (photo courtesy of the US Embassy website / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila said the new assistance brings the total US government funding to Php42.5 million for affected families in the two northern Philippine provinces.
Through the lead agency United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US government funding will provide six months of emergency home rental assistance for 375 families in Benguet province displaced by landslides, implemented in partnership with Catholic Relief Services.
The funding will also be utilized to purchase seeds for 1,400 small-scale farmers in Cagayan province to help them plant new crops, in partnership with World Vision.
“The assistance aims to ensure that displaced families have safe shelters and help farmers regain their livelihoods,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Monday.
On Saturday, US Embassy to the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission John Law visited one of the hardest hit areas and met with landslide-affected families in Itogon, as well as with local officials and representatives from non-government organizations.
“The U.S. government is honored to provide shelter, to support the reestablishment of livelihoods, and to walk alongside those in need on their road to recovery,” Law said.
In the aftermath of the typhoon, the USAID, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the United Nations World Food Program provided essential hygiene supplies for 5,500 people who lost their homes and livelihoods in Cagayan province and transported 1,000 metric tons of food to disaster-affected families.
Typhoon Ompong left 95 people dead, mostly in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and affected more than1.4 million residents.