The United States government has turned over a mobile storage unit and mobile energy systems to the local government of Cagayan to allow the province to store food and non-food items during emergency situations.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Ryan Washburn handed over the mobile storage unit worth P11.6 million that can store 50,000 food packs, which can be immediately delivered for life-saving assistance in the aftermath of disasters.
"For many years, USAID has dispatched teams to Cagayan and other provinces in Northern Luzon to support local government units in providing life-saving assistance during calamities," Washburn said.
"As your friend, partner, and ally, the US government remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and working with the Philippine government to rebuild and restore lives following disasters," he added.
During the turnover ceremony, USAID also formalized a partnership with Cagayan province and the World Food Programme to strengthen Cagayan's emergency response efforts through the Preparedness and Response Excellence in the Philippines, or PREP, project.
The project will help reduce disaster risks by improving irrigation canals, water systems, and water-harvesting facilities; set up community flood-control dikes; introduce climate-resilient crops; construct community evacuation centers; and provide cash-for-work training so communities can bounce back from natural disasters.
"People’s empowerment is at the heart of the disaster preparedness and good governance program of the governor," Provincial Administrator Mamba-Villaflor said.
USAID also handed over to the municipalities of Lal-Lo and Santa Ana mobile energy systems (MES), which will provide clean and reliable power to support relief operations and essential services in the aftermath of disasters, as well as help restart the power grid.
The systems, which are mobile, can be deployed anywhere they are needed, particularly in remote and off-grid areas.
Unlike traditional generator sets, they only require sunlight to recharge.
Since 2010, the US government, through USAID, has provided around P19.6 billion ($344 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid, as well as boosted the disaster risk reduction capacity of over 100 cities and municipalities in the Philippines.