Foreign aid bumuhos sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Odette

ni Jasmin Joy Evangelista | December 23, 2021

Bumuhos ang foreign aid para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Odette.

Kabilang sa mga bansang nagpadala at magpapadala pa ng tulong ay United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, at Ireland.

Ang Washington, sa pamamagitan ng US Agency for International Development (USAID), ay magbibigay ng P10 million o $200,000 bilang immediate assistance bilang pagtugon sa mga komunidad na nasalanta ng bagyong Odette na may international name na Super Typhoon Rai.

Ang China naman ay magdo-donate ng emergency cash assistance na $1 million sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan sa Central Visayas at mga parte ng Mindanao.

Magbibigay naman ng generator, camping tent, sleeping pad, portable jerry can/water container, at tarpaulin/plastic sheet covers ang Japan. Habang ang disaster relief goods, ayon sa embahada nito, ay isi-ship sa bansa sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Nagpaabot naman ng pakikisimpatya si US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava sa mga naapektuhan ng pananalasa ng bagyo.

“The United States is providing Php10 million in immediate support, including food and shelter for communities affected by Typhoon Odette,” Variava said. “We are committed to working alongside our friends and partners to provide emergency supplies and recovery assistance.”

Kamakailan lang ay nauna nang sinabi ng China na nasa 20,000 food packages at P8 milyon na ang naipadala nilang tulong sa Pilipinas.

Samantala, ang South Korean government ay nangako rin na magpapadala ng USD2 million aid para sa recovery efforts, at USD50,000 para sa emergency relief operations.

"We are going to consult with major humanitarian partners. 50K USD will be used as emergency relief action for procuring and delivering rice to those affected by the Typhoon. 2 million USD will aim at supporting recovery efforts to build resilience and restore livelihoods in communities affected by typhoon," pahayag ng Korean Embassy Manila.

Magpapadala rin ang Canada ng financial assistance worth up to $3 million Canadian dollars (approximately P120 million) bilang pantugon sa relief efforts, kung saan ang $500,000 o P20 million ay ibibigay sa Red Cross, ayon kay Canada's International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan.

“Canada will always do our part to help in times of need. After a devastating typhoon, Global Affairs Canada will help our friends in the Philippines with up to $3M in assistance, including $500,000 for the urgent Red Cross response," aniya.

Nakatakda rin itong magbigay ng additional $50,000 mula sa Canadian Embassy's Canada Fund for Local Initiatives para sa relief efforts sa Caraga.

“My heart goes out to the people of the Philippines, whose lives have been forever changed by last week’s super typhoon. Canadians are sending our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones - and we’ll keep everyone affected in our thoughts during this challenging time,” pahayag ni Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sa Twitter.

Ang Ireland naman ay nag-donate ng €250,000 or approximately P14 million sa UN World Food Programme's emergency response para sa Typhoon Odette.

“Wherever a disaster strikes, Ireland is ready to do our part to help save lives and restore the dignity of those who have been affected. In response to this crisis, I have approved funding of €250,000 to the UN World Food Programme," ayon sa pahayag ni Ireland’s Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora Colm Brophy T.D.

Sa ngayon ay patuloy ang relief operations para sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Odette, at nag-pledge na rin ang France at Australia, para sa disaster relief operations ng Pilipinas.

China, binuweltahan ang US sa isyu sa WPS

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | March 23, 2021

Bumuwelta ang Chinese Embassy, Manila sa United States kaugnay ng pagsuporta nito sa Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea matapos mamataan ang diumano’y 220 maritime militia vessels ng China sa Julian Felipe Reef noong March 7.

Sa official Twitter account ng Chinese Embassy Manila, mababasa ang tweet ng isang news site na: “US Embassy on Chinese ships at Juan Felipe Reef (Whitsun): Chinese boats have been mooring in this area for many months in ever increasing numbers, regardless of the weather.

We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia.”

Pahayag naman ng Chinese Embassy, “The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue. Fanning flames and provoking confrontation in the region will only serve the selfish interests of individual country and undermine the regional peace and stability.”

Saad pa ng embahada, "Both China and the Philippines are sovereign and independent countries. We have the will, wisdom and ability to properly handle relevant issues through bilateral channels.” Una nang pinabulaanan ng China na "maritime militia" ang mga naturang vessels at nanatili lamang daw ang mga barko sa reef dahil sa “rough sea condition.” Samantala, umaasa ang Malacañang na madadaan sa usapan ang isyu ng bansa sa China.

P710M drone system, donasyon ng US Embassy sa ‘Pinas

ni Thea Janica Teh | November 26, 2020

Tinatayang nasa P710 milyong halaga ng drone system ang ibinigay ng US Embassy ngayong Miyerkules sa Philippine Navy upang mas mapaigting ang depensa ng maritime at border security capacity nito.

Pinangunahan ni Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kimberly Kelly at ilang representatives mula sa US Embassy ng Joint US Military Assistance Group ng Pilipinas ang pagbibigay ng ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System kina Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Barcodo, Flag Officer in Command ng Philippine Navy at Naval Base Heracleo Alano na ginanap sa Sangley Point, Cavite.

Ang drone system na ito ay kayang magbigay ng intelligence, surveillance at reconnaissance sa 71st maritime unmanned aerial reconnaissance squadron ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Malugod din itong tinanggap ni AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan at sinabing ito ay gagamitin ng militar sa Palawan kung saan malapit sa West Philippine Sea.

Aniya, “This new asset will complement the same kind being operated by the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Wing at the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is very close to the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea that need our consistent attention.”

Bukod pa rito, makatutulong din ito sa panahon ng sakuna at humanitarian assistance. Samantala, ibinahagi ni Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na inaasahan din ang pagdating ng military equipment na nagkakahalaga ng P869 milyon mula sa US sa susunod na buwan.