AUSTRALIA PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO TYPHOON REMING VICTIMS IN BICOL
Australian Ambassador Tony Hely (2nd from right) and Sen. Richard Gordon (center), Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), led the launching of the Food for Work Program in Brgy. Patong, Municipality of Pamplona, Camarines Sur for families affected by Typhoon Reming. Funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the program is implemented by PNRC local chapters in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental which were badly affected by Typhoon Reming. The project shall provide basic food necessities to 15,600 affected families while they are rebuilding their houses destroyed by the typhoon. The Food for Work Program complements the provision of materials for house construction by the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC). Also in photo are (1st row, L-R) PNRC Sec. Gen. Corazon Alma de Leon, a project recipient, Pamplona Mayor Jose Remoquillo, Jr., (second row, L-R) IFRC Head of Philippine Delegation Roger Bracke and AusAID Counsellor Sam Zappia. The Australian Government, through AusAID, provided A$1.30 million (almost Php 52M) in humanitarian relief for the Typhoon Reming victims. Of this, more than Php19 million was provided to PNRC for the Food for Work program. Australian Government’s assistance was also coursed through the UNICEF and the UNDP. AusAID is also funding a PhP32-million Community-Based Disaster Preparedness Project with PNRC.