German relief groups may stay longer in Yolanda areas

MANILA, Philippines - German Minister of State Maria Boehmer said German relief organizations have the perspective to stay longer in areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda to ensure the implementation of German relief and rehabilitation programs.

Shortly after Yolanda struck the Visayas in November last year, German aid organizations were immediately on the ground to assist in relief efforts.

Boehmer’s visit to the Philippines from March 26 to 28 is significant in making sure Germany’s assistance is well used, with funds from German contributions committed to long-term rehabilitation of several areas in the Visayas, specifically for rebuilding schools, hospitals and municipal infrastructure and implementing disaster prevention measures.

“The first reason of my visit here in the Philippines is related to the Typhoon Yolanda. It’s actually to express great gratitude of the German government to all the relief organizations who did such a great work in supporting the Filipino victims of the Typhoon Yolanda,” Boehmer told The STAR.

Boehmer coordinated with German aid organizations in the Philippines to receive updates on relief and rehabilitation efforts on the ground, such as how donations are being used.

She said that the financial means are being used for two things: the immediate aid of calamity victims and for reconstruction.

“Whatever is needed for reconstruction such as shelter, schools, livelihood projects for longer and sustainable development and therefore the German relief organizations are prepared already and have the perspective to stay for a longer period to ensure the implementation,” Boehmer said.

“The donations were directly given to the relief organizations… Nothing went directly to the Philippine government. That’s the way Germany wants to help,” she added.

Germany has contributed P11 billion (176 million euros) to relief and rehabilitation efforts in affected regions.

Of the P11 billion, P8.7 billion are German private donations received by relief organizations such as the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the German Red Cross, among others. The German government also supports the relief efforts with 32 million euros.

About 16 million euros are allocated for reconstruction of areas destroyed by Yolanda, while another 16 million euros in humanitarian aid were given for the immediate relief of victims of the typhoon.

On top of the 176 million euros worth of aid, many more humanitarian aid organizations from Germany and German companies have extended their assistance to the affected areas in the Philippines.

Phl, Germany social security deal

In a related development, the Philippines and Germany concluded negotiations on a social security agreement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The final round of negotiations on a Philippine-German bilateral agreement on social security took place at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Berlin from March 24 to 28.

Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad opened the negotiations and expressed optimism that the second round would succeed.

The factors considered by the Philippine government to pursue the establishment of a social security agreement would be the number of Filipino migrant or contract workers in a particular country who would benefit from the agreement and the compatibility of social security schemes.

The main elements of the social security agreement include equality of treatment, export of benefits, determination of applicable legislation, maintenance of rights, and administrative assistance.

For equality of treatment, a Filipino who is a resident and employed in Germany shall be entitled to the same benefits granted to a German national under its social security law.