Austin condoles with typhoon-hit communities, announces $1 million aid

MANILA, Philippines — Aid to communities devastated by recent cyclones that battered the Philippines was discussed yesterday during the meeting of President Marcos and outgoing US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, who announced a $1-million humanitarian assistance to disaster-hit areas.

During his courtesy call on Marcos at Malacañang, Austin said he has authorized US troops to help Philippine forces provide lifesaving aid to residents affected by storms.

“At the outset, let me offer our condolences and thoughts and prayers to all those who have been disadvantaged by these six significant storms that have taken place in a very short period of time,” the defense chief said.

“The US has also secured another million dollars in urgent humanitarian aid, and that will enhance the work of USAID and the World Food Program. And that’s in addition to the nearly 100,000 pounds of supplies that we delivered after Typhoon Julian,” he added.

In an X post, Austin said the assistance would add to the $5.5 million in aid already provided to the Philippines through USAID since September.

Marcos thanked Austin for visiting the Philippines despite the “less-than-ideal” weather and cited the importance of the sites dedicated to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation (EDCA) to the country’s disaster response operations.

“I would like to point out and remind everyone how important the EDCA sites have become in all our HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) attempts... We have been hit with – we now refer to it as the KLMNOP series of typhoons. Six typhoons in about less than four weeks,” the President said.

EDCA, which was signed in 2014, granted the US access to Philippine military installations for training and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

There are eight sites dedicated to EDCA: Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation, Lumbia Air Base, Antonio Bautista Air Base, Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base, Balabac Island in Palawan, Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan.

According to Marcos, the EDCA sites have become “extremely useful” in the face of the effects of climate change.

“When we know that the storm is coming, we prepositioned as many assets, material as we can as close as possible, so as not to damage the actual resources that we have. And the EDCA sites have become the staging area because right after the storm, many areas can only be reached by helicopter,” he said.

Austin said Marcos’ vision for the EDCA sites has been realized. “It was your vision a while back that these sites could be used to do exactly what you have described: prepositioning supplies and food and other critical elements in times of urgent need, and it would enable us to serve the Filipino people much faster and much more efficiently. And that your vision has come true. And so, we’re glad we’ve played a part in that,” he said.

Taiwan donates $150,000

Meanwhile, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) has turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) $150,000 given by Taiwan as humanitarian assistance for the victims of Typhoon Kristine.

At its office in Makati last week, members of the MECO board handed the check representing the assistance to DSWD director Leo Quintilla.

The Taiwanese aid was received earlier by MECO chair Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil from Representative Wallace Chow of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).

“It is with great humility and gratitude that I accept this cash donation from our friends from TECO as relief assistance for the thousands of Filipino families and communities in Luzon whose lives were deeply affected by Typhoon Kristine,” Garafil said in accepting the donation.

She added, “The assistance that Taiwan has so far provided will definitely boost the determination of our people to rebuild their lives and put them back on the road to recovery.”

The donation was given at a time when Taiwan was similarly being battered by a super typhoon.