PH Thanks US For Additional P296M Assistance For Marawi Victims

25 June 2018 – The Philippines today expressed its appreciation to the United States for pledging an additional P296.2 million in assistance for women and families affected by last year’s siege in Marawi.

“We greatly appreciate this generous gesture being extended by the United States to our kababayan in Marawi,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said from New York.

“The latest assistance would bring to more than P1.5 billion the amount the United States has allocated for the rehabilitation and recovery of displaced communities in Marawi,” the Secretary added.

The Secretary issued the statement after the US Embassy in Manila announced the additional assistance that includes P136.1 million to cover the needs of displaced persons, particularly women and girls.

The US Embassy said the additional assistance will promote the role and inclusion of women in the recovery and rehabilitation of Marawi as well as support ongoing humanitarian assistance work in and around the city.

The US Embassy said the remaining P160.1 million will be allocated to restore livelihoods through training and recovery grants and to provide water and sanitation for more than 10,000 displaced households inside and around Marawi.

The US Embassy said the additional aid will be released to beneficiaries by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In September, the US donated P730 million in humanitarian assistance that covered critical relief supplies and early recovery, stabilization and rehabilitation of Marawi and surrounding areas.

This was followed by another P330 million that was released in January to provide jobs and livelihood opportunities for young men and women affected by the conflict.

In May, Washington released another P182 million in humanitarian relief. This was used to build transitional shelters for 58,000 displaced individuals and to repair water and sanitation facilities.

In addition, the US also distributed 12,000 water containers and 96,000 chlorine tablets for displaced families in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, and Iligan City. END