US announces fresh aid for Kristine-hit Bicol, Batangas

An aerial view shows inundated construction vehicles (foreground C) and flooded houses (background) caused by heavy rains brought about by Tropical Storm Trami, locally known as Krstine, in Bato town, Camarines Sur province on October 24, 2024. (Photo by Zalrian SAYAT / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines – The United States government announced Thursday an additional P196 million in aid to support the Philippines’ response to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) that wreaked havoc across the country last month.

The new funding will be coursed through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which will support logistics and provide clean water, sanitation, shelter, and cash assistance in the most affected areas of the Bicol region and Batangas province.

READ: Price freeze still up in Bicol provinces hit by Kristine

“As your friend, partner, and ally, the United States is committed to working with the Philippine government and people as they rebuild and recover,” US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said.

This fresh aid is in addition to the PHP84 million the US announced in October, raising the total value of its support for the Philippines’ disaster response to PHP280 million.

Since Oct. 25, the US has been working with humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving assistance to communities affected by tropical storms, typhoons, and subsequent flooding.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) distributed 1,500 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,500 kitchen sets funded by USAID to disaster-affected families in Albay and Camarines Sur provinces.

These relief items were prepositioned in the OCD humanitarian relief depot at Fort Magsaysay, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement site in Nueva Ecija.

The USAID and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are also working to assist more than 4,000 families in the regions of Bicol and Ilocos, and Batangas by providing shelter-grade tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, and hygiene kits.

Through USAID funding, the United Nations World Food Program also mobilized 92 trucks that supported the Department of Social Welfare and Development in delivering more than 150,000 family food packs and other relief items to Albay, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union.