AT LEAST P37.3 million assistance were given by the United States Government for typhoon Ompong victims in Benguet and Cagayan Valley on Friday in Itogon, Benguet.
The United States Embassy in the Philippines handed out the assistance worth US $700,000 to families affected by typhoon Ompong in Benguet and the Cagayan Valley on November 16 at the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, in Ucab, Itogon.
On the same day, a certification and identification card was provided to qualified recipient of typhoon Ompong Emergency Rental Assistance Project implemented by the Diocese of Baguio-Social Action Ministry and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with the assistance funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), the lead US government agency for international development and disaster assistance.
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law lauded the courage, resiliency and community spirit of the beneficiaries in helping each other with the local government units, national government units, church representatives and private organizations.
"It's an extraordinary privilege and an honor for me to be here representing the US government hear how typhoon affected your communities most importantly hear how together all of you working to rebuild your lives and communities, its inspiring," said Law meeting the families affected by typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) and Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan.
"The US government and the Philippine government have a good economic relationship. Most important about the US and Philippine relationship is that we are friends. One thing American people learn, and Filipinos show all time in those terrible moments, we come together and help each other," he added.
Father Manuel Flores, Social Action Coordinator of the Diocese of Baguio earlier mentioned around P15 to P20 million assistance was earlier given to Benguet as rental assistance.
For the succeeding months the assistance will be based on the number of dependents. A screening will be conducted to check the needs given and reach people who are in need.
Flores cited 350 to 375 beneficiaries are being eyed by the rental assistance for six months particularly in Itogon which started in October and will lapse until March 2019 with a maximum of P4,500 assistance.
Aside from rental assistance, non-food assistance is also given to 200 to 400 families all over Benguet.
Additional assistance is being provided with educational assistance to 5th year and 4th year college students, housing projects, repair assistance and livelihood assistance in Benguet coming from Caritas Philippines and benefactors in America and Europe.
