US donates P201 million to aid Mindanao’s fight vs COVID

MANILA, Philippines — The US government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $4 million or P201 million in support of the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in Mindanao.

The assistance will benefit around 100,000 people, with the distribution of essential hygiene supplies and handwashing stations as well as promotion of good hygiene to reduce the transmission of the virus and help in the reopening of communities.

The USAID said it would continue to provide vital water supply in transitory sites for families displaced by the Marawi siege and earthquake-affected communities in North Cotabato.

Ambassador Sung Kim reiterated his government’s commitment to partner with the Philippines in addressing the pandemic during his virtual meeting with officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) led by chief minister Ahod ”Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim on Tuesday.

The US embassy yesterday said the meeting provided an opportunity for the BARMM leadership to discuss the challenges and present its COVID-19 contingency plan to US officials.

Kim and USAID mission director Lawrence Hardy gave updates on US assistance to the Philippines in its fight against COVID-19.

“In these trying times, I am inspired by the resilience and courage of the Filipino people,” he said.

“The US and the Philippines have met and overcome many challenges together, and I am confident that working together we will overcome this challenge as well,” Kim said.

The latest funding brings the total amount of US government pandemic assistance to the Philippines to over $19.5 million or P978 million.

The US has provided more than $4.5 billion or P228 billion in development assistance to the Philippines in the last 20 years, including over P29 billion in health assistance.

The USAID and its partners will work with local government units, local health authorities and communities to provide vulnerable members of the population with the most accurate and up-to-date health information.