PHL gets $3-M typhoon grant

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has greenlighted a $3-million grant for the Philippine communities affected by Typhoons Tino and Uwan last year.

In a project data sheet, the ADB said that the grant was approved on Monday under the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides fast-tracked grants to developing member countries in the immediate aftermath of major natural disasters.

Through the grant, the ADB will provide emergency cash assistance to eligible disaster-affected families, specifically for affected families in Camarines Norte.

It seeks to “improve access of affected families to basic needs during the immediate post-disaster period, enhance capacity of families to recover and rebuild following the disaster, and reduce negative coping strategies among vulnerable families.”

The ADB first expressed its readiness to support communities affected by the torrential rains and floods that hit the country late last year in a statement on Nov. 7.

In which, the bank shared its commitment to make available up to $3 million in grant funds upon request of the Philippine government.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the suffering caused by the recent series of disasters in the Philippines,” said ADB President Masato Kanda in a letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

“This immediate emergency support reflects ADB’s enduring commitment to the Filipino people, addressing both urgent humanitarian needs and long-term development goals.

Apart from the grant, the Manila-based multilateral lender also expressed its readiness to mobilize significantly additional resources to support infrastructure rehabilitation and recovery.

The bank currently provides financial assistance to construct resilient roads, bridges, and railways in the country while helping it achieve its climate action agenda. — Justine Irish D. Tabile