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Typhoon-hit tourism sector may avail of aid under Bayanihan 2 — chief MANILA (Mabuhay) — Displaced tourism workers affected by Super Typhoon Rolly may avail of some P3 billion worth of assistance allotted under Bayanihan 2, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday. The fund is originally allocated for the sector's workers hit by the COVID-19 pandemic's lockdown, according to Puyat. An additional P100 million was allotted for displaced tourist guides and some P6 billion is allocated for soft loans for medium, small and micro tourism enterprises, Puyat said. The strong winds and torrential rains of Rolly, the world's strongest storm so far this year, had inundated large swaths of Bicol region and other parts of Luzon, knocked down electrical posts and damaged heritage structures, leaving at least 19 dead and displacing hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, some countries sent their condolences and pledged aid to the Philippines after typhoon Rolly, the world's strongest storm for 2020, wreaked havoc in parts of the country. The government of the United Kingdom on Tuesday said was allotting £1 million (around P62.8 million/$1.2 million) to help victims of Typhoon Goni (Rolly) in the Philippines, as well as those affected by the recent flooding in Vietnam. Nigel Adams, the Minister for Asia at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), announced UK's aid for the two Southeast Asian countries. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government said it has pledged 35 million AED or more than P450 million of financial aid for those affected by the typhoon. According to WAM (Emirates News Agency), a delegation from the Emirates Red Cross (ERC) has travelled to Manila to oversee the relief operations and ensure urgent delivery of the aid in coordination with local authorities in the Philippines. “Phase One of the ERC aid project includes large volume of shelter materials, while Phase Two will provide health, food and other human-
itarian assistance to those affected by the recent natural calamity,” it said. “H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, has been monitoring typhoon ‘Goni’ (local name ‘Rolly’) since it started to hit the Philippines over the weekend,” it added. The European Union offered their condolences to the families of the vic-
tims of the typhoon. The Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia also offered their condolences to the families of the victims of the typhoon. “Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of Typhoon #RollyPH, which has killed over a dozen persons and injured & displaced many others, particularly in the Bicol region & in Southern Luzon,” it said in a Facebook post. “We offer our sympathy to all af-
fected by this catastrophe and express our solidarity with the Filipino people & the local authorities.” Typhoon Rolly, which struck the Philippines as a super typhoon on Sunday, killed at least 19 people and has affected hundreds of thousands in several provinces. More than 4 millions of residents in the region remain without electricity and even energy officials are unable to say when power could be restored. (MNS)
Gov’t may reconsider joint patrol exercises US Embassy exec: Ties with Philippines in West Philippine Sea -- Esperon to remain strong whoever wins in US elex
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The national government could reconsider participating in joint patrol exercises with other countries in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said on Wednesday. Esperon said joint patrol exercises are currently on hold as the government sees it as unhelpful in attaining a peaceful West Philippine Sea. "If you are referring to joint exercises, we have put them on hold after all if we are to conduct joint
exercises, joint patrol exercises, we can do it in our territorial waters or in areas where we have maneuver area like the Sulu Sea or even at the side of the Philippine Sea," Esperon said. "For now, we have put them on hold for several reasons but we will consider them again as the situation develops. For now, we think that getting into military exercises in the area don't contribute much to peaceful South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. We will continue
to evaluate that however," he added. In August, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said President Rodrigo Duterte had prohibited government troops from joining other countries in conducting naval exercises. Lorenzana said the directive aims to prevent the escalation of tension in the resource-rich region. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, said the decision was in line with the national government’s independent foreign policy. (MNS)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — America's relations with its long-time ally, the Philippines, will remain unchanged and strong whoever wins the US presidential elections, Washington's acting ambassador to Manila said Wednesday. Embassy Chargè d'Affaires John Law said he expects the alliance to remain "productive" regardless of the result of the presidential contest between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. "Every US Embassy works very hard for the best possible relationship with the host government. We will continue to do that here in Manila regardless of the results of the US election," Law said at the election watch party hosted by the US Embassy in Manila. The US elections are crucial to the Philippines because it can change the trajectory of Washington’s relations with President Rodrigo Duterte, whose deadly on war on drugs sparked concerns from the administration of former US President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Duterte resorted to curses-laden verbal attacks against the former US leader, who he once told to "go to hell." If Biden wins, he will be the 46th President of the United States. Unlike his predecessor, Trump, who refrained from criticizing Duterte, enjoys good relations with the Philippine leader. As the US begins its election count, the embassy held its traditional watch party, where guests from the Philippine government, media, US and foreign diplomats, watched partial results being streamed by American networks CNN and Fox News. Law called the election a celebration of American democratic process. "What we celebrate today is the strength of American democracy with all its flaws and weaknesses and mistakes," Law said. "For two and a half centuries, the American people have worked tirelessly to improve it
and make our union ever more perfect and that will not change." As the events of the polls unfolded, interactive booths were set up in the embassy compound where guests learn about the US voting system and participated in a trivia contest about American elections and Presidential history. The US president is decided through a system called the Electoral College. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to be declared the official winner of the presidential race. The ballroom and courtyard of the embassy were decked in red, white and blue where guests watch the results coming in from various states on TV monitors while enjoying refreshments. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, only a small number of participants were invited unlike in previous presidential election watch parties that drew huge attendees. "Our entire embassy team has worked tirelessly and taken every precaution to ensure that we can offer you an event that is both enjoyable and safe," Law said. The general mood was more subdued compared to the festive atmosphere of previous years' election watch parties where supporters of the winning candidate would cheer and clap as results are usually known a few hours after polls across the US have closed. This year's US poll counting is slower because a huge number of ballots were cast by mail due to the pandemic. But whoever wins, Law said he is optimistic that Manila's ties with Washington will remain stronger than ever. "The US and Philippine relationship is very very old, is very very strong. There have been Republicans and Democratic Presidents of the United States and different administrations in the Philippines. One constant has been the relationship between our peoples, the relationship between our countries is always very strong and of that I'm certain," Law said. (MNS)
