Spain keeps aid flowing to typhoon victims

By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon

LIGAO CITY--THE Spanish government has given anew 173 tons or 16,000 galvanized iron sheets to help typhoon survivors rebuild houses in Albay.

Spain’s Charge d’ Affaires Alvaro Trejo said the assistance benefited 151 households from 21 villages in this city.

In a turnover ceremony on Aug. 23, Trejo also announced that the Spanish government had approved a P60-million grant to the local government for the rehabilitation of the badly damaged Ligao City Hospital.

Equipment

Trejo said the money, coursed through the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacionale, would be used for the repair of the hospital, as well as for the acquisition and upgrade of medical equipment.

The Spanish agency was one of the first institutions to extend help after Typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” wreaked massive havoc in Bicol late last year.

It has already extended a total of P54 million to Albay, covering community projects on farming and livestock, infrastructure and education.

Farm tools

Cedric Daep, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, said the Spanish Embassy also gave more than P4 million in farm tools, seeds, pesticides, and knapsack sprayers to those who had lost their livelihood to the storms.

Trejo said he wanted the Filipinos to remember the help of the Spanish government not merely as a dole-out but as a product of cooperation between the two countries.

“The Philippines and Spain are two very close countries cooperating to promote development and reduce poverty—all part of a global effort,” Trejo said.