29 November 2013 – Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos C. Salinas attended on November 27 the Spanish Congress Plenary session, in which Spanish President Mariano Rajoy, Vice President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, Finance and Public Administration Minister Cristobal Montoro, Economic Minister Luis de Guindo, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz and other senior government officials answered questions from the Congress members.

Deputy Chief of Mission Catalino R. Dilem, Jr. accompanied Ambassador Salinas.

Congressman Juan Carlos Grau Reinés inquired from the Foreign Minister the Spanish humanitarian assistance for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.

Foreign Minister Margallo, before addressing the question, extended to the Ambassador his sincerest sympathies for the devastation caused by typhoon Yolanda. The following are the salient points of his statement:

1.    To date, Spain is the only European Union member with a permanent team extending humanitarian aid in the Philippines since the beginning of the relief operations.

2.    The Philippines continues to be the priority country in Asia for Spain in terms of cooperation and development.

3.    Thirty-four Spanish nationals in the affected areas are all safe.

4.    The humanitarian assistance included the following:

a)    Fifteen tons of aid from Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Action Against Hunger and Spanish Red Cross, consisting of equipment for drinking water treatment and distribution, shelter materials, tents, waterproof covers, and mosquito nets.

b)    Forty tons of potable water equipment comprising 5 units. 

c)    € 300,000 worth of medicines from Fundacion Reina Sofia in collaboration with Laboratorios Normon.

To date, the Spanish Government’s aid to the Philippines amounted to € 2,609,693.00. END