PH thanks US for add'l P296-M aid for Marawi

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): PH thanks US for add'l P296-M aid for Marawi

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Monday thanked the United States government for releasing an additional PHP296.2 million-worth of assistance to the families affected by the Marawi siege.

"We greatly appreciate this generous gesture being extended by the United States to our kababayan in Marawi,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.

"The latest assistance would bring to more than PHP1.5 billion the amount the United States has allocated for the rehabilitation and recovery of displaced communities in Marawi,” he added.

US Deputy Chief of Mission to the Philippines Michael Klecheski on Saturday announced the additional assistance, which will be delivered through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This brings the total US government contribution to Marawi to more than PHP1.7 billion or around USD31.95 million, the US embassy in Manila said.

Of the total amount, PHP136.1 million is allotted to displaced persons, particularly women and girls.

The embassy said this is to empower women in fostering peacebuilding and alternatives to violent extremism, as well as integrate gender into recovery and rehabilitation work.

Meanwhile, the remaining PHP160.1 million will be used to restore livelihoods through training and recovery grants to help more than 7,800 displaced families as well as provide water and sanitation for more than 10,000 displaced households inside and around Marawi City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039426