U.S. donates $ 17.6M to Benguet's disaster risk reduction program

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 11): U.S. donates $ 17.6M to Benguet's disaster risk reduction program

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas today met officials of Benguet Province to give America's donation in the amount of US$ 17.6 million for the province's risk disaster reduction program.

The donation for the disaster-prone province was received by Benguet provincial governor Nestor Fongwan -- who personally led massive rescue and retrieval operations during natural calamities which hit the area in the last six years.

The worst happened on October 8, 2008 when torrential rains spawned by Typhoon “Pepeng” which entered the country three times triggered a landslide and buried the entire village of “Little Kibungan” which killed more than 400 residents.

The disaster area in the western part of this wide valley remained as a gaping cut at a side of a mountain and the absence of the remnant of the more than 200 residential buildings which once stood there is a perennial sign of the extent of the calamity.

Thomas said he hopes the contribution would help minimize risk in this area of the country at the same time further strengthen the friendship of the Filipino and American people.

Although Benguet is among the richest province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in terms of natural resources, average income of families and presence of industries to generate local employment, Fongwan said the province remains to have deficiencies in the risk reduction during disasters.

Fongwan said the U.S. donation shall be spent in accordance with the purpose and conditions required by the donor, and the amount would redound to the benefit of all the people of Benguet.

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