Palace thanks int’l community for Ruby aid

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Sunday extended its gratitude to members of the international community that have already pledged aid and emergency assistance to typhoon-battered Philippines.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte in a radio interview relayed Malacañang’s gratefulness to various states and institutions pledging to help the country.

“Marami na po sila. Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa ating mga kapitbahay at sa ating mga kaibigan dahil marami na po sa kanilang nag-express ng kanilang readiness and willingness to help,” Valte said.
(There are already a lot of them. We would like to thank our neighbors and our friends because many of them have already expressed their readiness and willingness to help.)

Valte also mentioned the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) as among those that have guaranteed to provide emergency aid in the wake of Typhoon Ruby.

On the countries who have pledged assistance even before the storm slammed the central Philippines, “I think America and Australia, through their respective ambassadors, have already expressed their willingness and their readiness to help,” Valte said.

When asked about who would handle the donations received from the international community, the presidential spokesperson said that it depended on which agency is granted the donation.

“Depende po ‘yan kung kaninong ahensya ibinibigay. But, siyempre, mayroon ho diyang mga chosen third party charity organizations din po nila. Depende ho, again, depende ho kung kanino ibibigay,” Valte said.
(It depends on which agency the donation is given, but of course there will be some third party charity organizations of their choosing.)

“But, certainly, the government (accounts for) every centavo that is given,” she said.