Philippines: US, Japan pour aid to disaster-stricken areas

Following the two recent consecutive flash floods that hit Mindanao, the Japanese government donated an estimated P568 million (¥1.013 billion) for the flood-disaster mitigation on Camiguin Island (Philippines). According to Business Mirror, the US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAid) donated an additional $1.9 million (about P83.9 million) as well to cities in Mindanao.

“This project [in the Camiguin river basin], together with nonstructural disaster prevention assistance Japan implemented earlier, such as evacuation drills and education campaign, will strengthen the ability of Camiguin Island against future risks of mud slides and other negative impact, thus contributing to enhancing disaster prevention and management capability of the Philippines,” said Isomata, economic minister of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, in a speech during the inauguration.