The United States has extended assistance to the government to support victims of recent calamities.
It also expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those who perished during the disasters.
“Let me offer our condolences and thoughts and prayers to all those who have been disadvantaged by six significant storms that have taken place in a very short period of time,” US Defense Secretary of State Lloyd Austin III told President Marcos.
Secretary Austin paid a courtesy call on President Marcos at the Malacañan Palace on Monday. The US official said he authorized US troops to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in providing aid to typhoon-hit communities.
“And the US has also secured another million dollars in urgent humanitarian aid, and that will enhance the USAID and the World Food Programme. And that’s in addition to the nearly 100,000 pounds of supplies that we delivered after Typhoon Julian,” he said.
Highlighting the strengthened alliance between the Philippine and the US, Secretary Austin underscored his country’s commitment to support Filipinos during crises.
In response, President Marcos thanked Secretary Austin for visiting the Philippines despite challenging weather conditions. He also stressed the importance of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in disaster response.
President Marcos said EDCA sites served as staging areas for prepositioned assets for typhoon- hit areas.
“Before, when we know that the storm is coming, we prepositioned as much as many assets, material as we can as close as possible, so as not to damage the actual resources that we have. And the EDCA sites have become the staging area because right after the storm, many areas can only be reached by helicopter,” he said.
“And many roads closed because of landslides. And therefore, even the main capital of provinces can only be reached by aircraft. So, we have used to a great extent the EDCA sites. I just like to remind everyone on the wisdom behind that and how it has become so extremely useful in the face of these effects of climate change,” he added.
Over the past week, the Philippines was struck by typhoons Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel and Pepito, bringing heavy rains and causing heavy flooding in parts of the Philippines. | PND
