British aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, carrying around 500 tons of aid for victims of Typhoon Haiyan docks at Pier 15 in South Harbor, Manila on Wednesday (December 11, 2013) for relief operation in Tacloban, Leyte. Led by Capt. Mike Utley, the Royal Navy ship carries supplies provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) including 12,500 blankets, 20,000 candles, 30,000 bags of rice and 9,800 tins of sardines, thousand cans of vegetables, shelter kits, and jerry cans. HMS Illustrious is replacing HMS Daring, which has been distributing aid in remote communities for the past week. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Fishermen in areas heavily affected by Typhoon Yolanda in Guiuan, Eastern Samar received a ¥150 million (P58 million) worth of aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
JICA turned over a total of 86 types of equipment for production of fish seedlings and algae to the Guiuan Marine Fisheries Development Center (GMFDC) as part of its ¥4.6 billion aid program to support the country’s “build back better” policy for areas devastated by the 2013 super storm.
Guiuan farmers were also assisted in reestablishing grouper or lapu-lapu farming and rehabilitating the public wet market in their province.
Meanwhile, the fisheries sector in Tanauan, Leyte received milkfish and oyster racks to restore their aquaculture industry while fishermen in Basey, Western Samar were provided with submersible typhoon-resistant fish cages.
JICA Philippines Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa in a statement on Saturday said they hope to contribute to the restoration of “economic opportunities in typhoon Yolanda-affected areas” as the Philippines’ development partner.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Typhoon Yolanda left 6,300 people dead and 4.1 million displaced in 44 provinces, 591 municipalities and 57 cities when it barreled through Eastern Visayas on November 8, 2013.
Figures from the government’s Foreign Aid Transparency Hub indicate that pledges from international organizations and foreign governments has reached P73.31 billion, comprising P45.11 billion in cash and P28.2 billion in non-cash commitments.(MNS)