25 November 2013 – The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Development, the Right Honorable Justine Greening, MP, met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on November 24 to assure the Philippines that the UK is ready to provide further assistance to the Philippines on top of the 110 million pound sterling already announced.
Secretary of State Greening earlier personally visited the typhoon-ravaged areas to assess the situation and monitor ongoing British search and rescue and relief operations. Having had the opportunity to see the gravity of the situation first hand, she stated that the UK government will continue to contribute to relief operations and at the same time, stands ready to join in the recovery and rehabilitation program for areas in Central Philippines most devastated by Haiyan/Yolanda.
In response to the request for further information from the UK Member of Parliament for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Secretary del Rosario, joined by DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, Treasurer Rosalia de Leon, DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montalbo, DFA Assistant Secretary Zeneida Angara Collinson, Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo and Philippine Ambassador to UK Enrique Manalo, apprised the UK delegation of the latest situation, progress, assessed needs to date, and government plans for the affected areas. Based on preliminary estimates, a total of USD2.55 Billion will be needed to cover post-disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation.
As of November 21, the UK government has pledged 53 million pound sterling in humanitarian assistance while 57 million pound sterling have been raised by the disasters emergency committee, a group of 14 leading UK aid charities. The royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will take over from the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Daring from November 24 to provide logistical support to civilian humanitarian operations.
The UK delegation confirmed its support for the Philippine government's leadership in managing the after-effects of Typhoon Haiyan. Noting that any government would have been overwhelmed by the sheer size of the strongest typhoon to make landfall in recorded history, they offered to take an active part in the immediate recovery efforts as well as in the mammoth rehabilitation program. END