Australia offers $2M in aid for flood victims

Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert  Del Rosario said that Australia offered up to $2M in assistance to the Philippines for the conduct of relief operations for flood victims that were heavily affected by monsoon rains that ravaged Metro Manila and neighboring provinces this week.

“We received today a pledge of $2M from Australia,” Del Rosario said Friday on the sidelines of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

When asked about the other forms of assistance given to the country, Del Rosario said that he had not looked at the other pledges.

The United States had said it would donate up to $100,000 in assistance.

Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesman, in a separate interview, said that they did not have any other information but that the country did not ask for aid.

“The countries gave it as their expression of solidarity and generosity,” Hernandez said.