Australia gives PH P104M for disaster response

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has received a P104.2-million grant from Australia for a three-year program to enhance the Philippine government’s disaster response.

The funding came from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is aimed at enhancing the DSWD’s capacity in disaster response and humanitarian assistance.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera thanked the Australian government for the support.

“The implementation of the program is timely especially now that the typhoon season is approaching,” said Cabrera in a statement.

In its inception report, the DSWD proposed that the grant be used to cover the prepositioning and purchase of non-food relief supplies; construction of warehouses; capacity development, and project management, including monitoring and evaluation. These program components were based on assessments of past experiences of the DSWD in major disaster operations, the agency said.

Australia’s representative, Counselor Geoff King, expressed his approval of the inception report, adding that he hoped the annual plan for implementation would be drafted immediately.

King said they would closely coordinate with the DSWD to ensure the purchase of only international-quality materials and the timely completion of the project components.–Julie M. Aurelio

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