Philippines
Luzon
3,500 families in Davao del Norte, Oro displaced by flood receive P10,000 aid each from USAID
3,500 families in Davao del Norte, Oro displaced by flood receive P10,000 aid each from USAID
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development, provided cash assistance to 3,500 families affected by floods and landslides spawned by the trough of a low-pressure area (LPA) in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro recently.
The USAID gave P10,000 each to 2,000 families from Carmen, Dujali, and New Corella in Davao del Norte and 1,500 in Davao de Oro, particularly families in Barangay Masara in Maco, which was hit by a massive landslide in February.
Officials of the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance on March 11 toured the Davao Flooding Emergency Response intervention sites initiated by the Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger.
USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance director Ben Hemingway said the US government gave $1.25 million or P70 million in humanitarian aid to address the needs of all the communities affected by flooding and landslides in the Davao region and Mindanao.
Hemingway said that the Action Against Hunger’s Mindanao Flooding Emergency Response aims to deliver immediate assistance to the most affected families in the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and this city through USAID.
“This emergency response would prioritize families facing prolonged displacement and potential challenges in rebuilding their homes,” Hemingway said, adding that the funding they provided to their partners was to ensure that affected families have access to all necessities.
According to the USAID, at least 2,500 beneficiaries from affected communities are expected to have increased access to vital WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), focusing on water supply, non-food items, and hygiene promotion.
USAID emphasized WASH Readiness and Preparedness, which includes training local government unit (LGU) personnel, developing preparedness plans for diarrhea and cholera outbreaks, as well as comprehensive I-WASH plans and water safety plans, all supported by research.
The multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), on the other hand, aims to cover the immediate food and other basic humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable households, targeting around 7,500 beneficiaries.
Hemingway said their program will remain active for months until the affected families recover, return to their homes, and rebuild their livelihood. He added that they have partnered with the Philippine government and World Food Program to provide direct aid to needy communities.
Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib thanked the USAID and the Catholic Relief Services for their assistance. He said the government is continuously supporting the families affected by the calamities until they can recover from the losses, especially in agricultural production.