Japan continues to assist the people affected by Tropical Strom Ondoy.
Embassy of Japan 's Minister for Economic Affairs, Tomochika Uyama, will attend the turnover of the relief assistance for the victims affected by Tropical Storm Ondoy in Sitio Sub-urban, Barangay San Jose, Montalban, Rizal on October 29, 2009. The grant of US$92,780 (approximately 4.4 million pesos) consists of emergency relief package of food and non-food items for 3,200 families (19,000 persons) in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City and three (3) villages in the Municipality of Montalban, Rizal. This project, in partnership with the Christian Aid, is implemented through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
According to the NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council) report on October 24, more than 890,000 families were affected by the floodwaters and mudslides. 464 people were killed and 37 people are still missing. In addition, 31,508 families are still in evacuation centers, which are dependent of assistance from donors for their daily necessities.
It is under these circumstances that the Christian Aid, a humanitarian organization, has sought the assistance of the Embassy of Japan to provide the relief items for the people in the severely damaged areas.
The Government of Japan has already signified its assistance to victims affected by Tropical Storm Ondoy in substantially larger scale. On September 28, 2009, Japan delivered the emergency relief goods amounting to 20 million yen (Approximately 10 million pesos or US$220,000) of 1,500 sleeping mattresses, 1,500 blankets, 20 water tanks, 1,500 polyester tanks and 15 water purifiers. In addition, Japan Platform (JPF) has decided to contribute up to 100 million yen (approximately 50 million pesos), of which the Government of Japan covers a substantial part, to Japanese NGO's relief and medical missions. JPF is a humanitarian organization, comprised of Japanese NGOs, commercial and government institutions, which extends emergency assistance worldwide. To date, eight (8) JPF member-NGOs have dispatched relief missions to various areas affected by the calamity. Moreover, on October 9, 2009, Japan decided to provide food assistance amounting to 4.5 million US Dollars (approximately 210 million pesos) through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). This assistance includes cost of logistical support (helicopters and other land transportation vehicles) as well as food supplies, which have been delivered to 670,000 victims within one (1) month.
The GGP was launched in the Philippines in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engage in grassroots activities. Since then, more than 400 small-scale grassroots projects amounting to a total of 238 m illion yen (approximately 2.1 m illion US dollars ) have been implemented by NGOs, local g overnment units (LGUs ), and other non-profit organizations.
