The US government has pegged in an additional US$10 million in food aid for the victims of destructive typhoons that hit the country in September and October, bringing the total amount of its disaster relief and recovery assistance to US$30 million.

This was announced by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney at the World Food Program’s (WFP) logistics hub in Baguio City.

Kenney is in Northern Luzon to visit typhoon-affected areas in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), particularly Brgy. Little Kibungan in La Trinidad, Benguet Province, where she will be distributing relief items. About 77 persons were killed by a landslide in the said area last October 8.

“The additional assistance will help address the continuing needs of our friends in the Philippines, including the needs of communities not far from where we are standing,” she said.

“I commend Filipinos and our international partners for their long-term commitment to help those most affected by the storms. As we move our efforts from relief to rehabilitation and recovery, logistics will increasingly become a key component in future undertakings,” Kenney said.

According to the US Embassy in Manila, the WFP logistics hub is part of the US government’s effort to address accessibility concerns in the northern areas of Luzon. The WFP received $1 million to provide logistics support in the distribution of relief goods and much needed supplies.

It will be recalled that the US Embassy in Manila was the first to provide assistance to the Philippines following the onslaught of tropical storm “Ondoy” last September 26, initially providing US$100,000.

The US government also sent military troops as well as supplies and equipment to help in the rescue and relief operations.

The US Embassy has allocated a total of US$14.48 million in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts following the onslaught of two strong typhoons, “Pepeng” and “Santi” in October. An additional US$5.2-million was also given in disaster relief and recovery during the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Philippines in November.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government turned over Thursday 13,500 metric tons (MT) of fertilizers, which is expected to benefit typhoon affected areas of the country.

The turnover ceremony was led by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura and Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla in Subic Port, Zambales.

The 13,500 MT of fertilizers is part of the 26,135 MT of fertilizers worth 480 million yen or approximately P253 million procured by the Philippines under the 31st Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers Program, formerly known as the 2KR or Japan’s Increased Food Production Program.

The fertilizers will be distributed to typhoon-affected areas in Northern and Central Luzon. This is already the third shipment and will be distributed in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Isabela and Cagayan Valley.

The first two shipments of 12,635 metric tons of fertilizers arrived in Davao on September 9 and in Iloilo on October 2, respectively.

The first batch of fertilizers was distributed to selected low-income farmers in Mindanao, particularly the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao del Norte and South Cotabato. The second batch was distributed to underprivileged farmer-beneficiaries in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

The last shipment of 7,500 metric tons is expected to arrive in Subic port, Zambales on December 14. These will be distributed to low-income farmers in selected provinces in Central Luzon which were affected by typhoons, namely Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija.

The Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers is one of the three grant aid projects signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura last March 30.

The said project is expected to contribute to the country’s food self-sufficiency and agricultural productivity.

Japan is the Philippines’ second largest trading partner as well as the second largest foreign investor in the Philippines. It also remains the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA) for the Philippines.