Phl to donate $1 M to UN's Ebola fund

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government said today that it will donate at least $1 million to the UN's trust fund to help fight the deadly Ebola virus disease.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the presence of Filipinos abroad, estimated at 10 million, has made it imperative for the country to contribute to the UN's Ebola Response Multi- Partner Trust Fund.

Aquino said the Philippine government will exert all efforts to ensure that the country will remain Ebola-free. The Philippine government has allotted some P26 million ($577,000) for the implementation of measures to prevent the entry and spread of Ebola in the country.

Measures put in place by the Philippine government to prevent the spread of the deadly disease include a 21-day quarantine for Filipinos coming from Ebola-stricken countries.

Earlier, the Philippine government said the 142 Filipino peacekeepers who will arrive on Nov. 11 from Liberia will be brought to an island in the northern part of the country where they will be quarantined for 21 days.