The US government is providing 500,000 US dollars or P25 million to help those affected by Super Typhoon Julian in Batanes.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) made the announcement on Saturday, Oct. 5, as Julian battered the northernmost province.
“USAID is responding to Super Typhoon Julian which made landfall in Batanes Province with sustained winds of 120 mph and up to 27 inches of rain,” the US government announced in a post on X.
“We are providing $500K to humanitarian partners on the ground to provide emergency shelter, water, sanitation & more[,]” it added.
Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin directed the US Indo-Pacific Command to support USAID efforts in foreign disaster relief operations in the country upon the request of the Philippine government.
The III Marine Expeditionary Force, directed by USINDOPACOM, has sent personnel and equipment to transport foreign disaster relief (FDR) supplies via KC-130J Hercules aircraft to affected locations.
They will join personnel from I MEF'S 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Rotational Force–Southeast Asia, who are already in the country for training as well as to facilitate the efficient distribution of materials.
Humanitarian assistance supplies include tarps, shelter kits, food packets, and other non-food items.
Two Marine Corps KC-130Js departed Okinawa, Japan, and arrived in Manila on Oct. 5 in order to support the ongoing relief efforts.
The US military is providing air transport and other assistance in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the US Department of Defense Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid Program.
Earlier, President Marcos already announced that the government would also be releasing P25 million to help the families affected.
This was on top of the P15 million that the House of Representatives also allocated.
According to the President, the government’s next steps would be to repair the houses damaged by Julian.