Analyzing the elections

The European Commission has approved a grant of 710,000 euros, equivalent to some P46 million, for victims of typhoons that devastated the Bicol region early last year.

“This additional assistance under this new decision will focus on providing support, mostly decent shelter, to those people staying in evacuation/transit centers,” Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the EC office in Manila, said. EC’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) will provide the funds.

“Given the disastrous impact of the four typhoons that hit Bicol last year, recovery has been slower than expected, and much work remains to be done to ensure that those displaced by the typhoons can be given adequate shelter before this year’s typhoon season comes around,” he added.

MacDonald said the additional funding is on top of the grant of two million euros or about P130 million approved in December last year.

The International Organization for Migration will implement the project for EC in close coordination with authorities and other local and foreign agencies working in the area. – With Bernice Estero and Renee Puno