This picture taken on December 31, 2019, shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales. – Fire-ravaged Australia has launched a major operation to reach thousands of people stranded in seaside towns after deadly bushfires ripped through popular tourist areas on New Year’s Eve. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will donate $100,000 to help Australians in its battle against the raging bushfires in their country, Senator Richard Gordon said Friday.
“Tayo ngayon magbibigay $100,000 sa Australian Red Cross galing sa pinaghirapan natin dito ‘yan, para makatulong doon sa mga nasunugan doon,” Gordon, PRC chairman, said in a forum.
(We will now give $100,000 to the Australian Red Cross, which we have worked on here, to help those who were affected by the fires there.)
“Tumutulong sila sa atin, marunong din tayo tumulong, hindi nga lang ganon kalaki sa kanila but at least, meron tayong kusang loob diba?” he added.
(They are helping us, so we also know how to help. It may not be as much as the help they give us, but at least we make an initiative right?)
Gordon said PRC might meet with embassy officials of Australia on Monday to turn over the financial assistance.
“Mga Monday siguro (Maybe Monday) we’ll ask a representative of the embassy to come here and take the Red Cross donation of the Philippines with the amount of $100,000,” Gordon said.
Gordon said PRC has also previously extended aid to other countries hit by disasters, having donated $2.3 million to Japan in 2011 after it was hit by a powerful tsunami and $25,000 to the US in 2005 after it was hit by Hurricane Katrina, among others.