Spain extends P15M aid for rehabilitation of quake-hit Central Visayas

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Spanish government has allocated 264,000 euros or about P15.47 million in aid for quake-hit Central Visayas as it reaffirmed its readiness to assist the Philippines in rebuilding colonial heritage buildings destroyed or damaged by the temblor.

In a statement, the Spanish Embassy in Manila said on Wednesday that the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has provided humanitarian aid for the country to back ongoing relief operations for around 370,000 people displaced by the deadly quake in October.

The Spanish donation is the latest aid to come from the international community since the United Nations appealed for $46.8 million or P2 billion in funding assistance needed in quake-hit provinces, particularly Bohol and Cebu where houses, landmarks and vital infrastructure were destroyed.

Bulk of the amount, around 157,000 euros or P9.35 million, will be coursed through Spanish non-government organization Save the Children for the repair of damaged schools.

Some 50,000 euros or P2.98 million will meanwhile be used to acquire tents and power generators through AECID and P3.4 million or 57,000 euros will be used for water, sanitation and healthcare facilities through the Spanish Red Cross.

Spain also said it would help the Philippines in restoring Spanish colonial buildings damaged or destroyed by the quake upon the formal filing of a request by the Philippine government.

“The Spanish Government remains ready to assist the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) in its efforts to evaluate and define the way ahead in the recovery and possible reconstruction of the damaged heritage of the Spanish period (churches, watch towers and “baluartes”) that were affected by the earthquake and for which we would require the formalization of the request of assistance and the definition of the support needed,” said the Embassy in a statement.

The 7.2-magnitude quake that shook Central Visayas on October 15 damaged landmarks around Bohol and Cebu, including historic centuries-old churches.

The emergency funding brings to nearly 1.44 million euros or about P85 million Spain’s total humanitarian aid to the Philippines this year.

Earlier, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, India, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, the United States and the European Union allocated relief assistance to the Philippines.

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