US donates emergency relief supplies to Nueva Ecija EDCA site

The United States has donated emergency relief supplies to Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site.

In a statement from the US Embassy released on Wednesday, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided supplies including emergency shelter-grade tarpaulins; shelter repair tools such as handsaws, shovels, ropes, hammers, and nails; and kitchen sets, including pots, pans, bowls, plates, and utensils.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson handed over the supplies to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.

According to the US Embassy, the supplies can support at least 10,000 people and will be stored at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

“Today’s donation demonstrates how EDCA sites like Fort Magsaysay strengthen the Philippines’ humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness efforts,” Carlson said.

“The U.S. government remains committed to supporting the Philippines as it builds its national and local capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters,” she added.

“The Philippines and the United States have a strong alliance. This alliance is demonstrated not just through words but through concrete actions of cooperation,” Teodoro said.

The US also helps the Philippines with its disaster response efforts by “bolstering its community-based disaster risk reduction, providing disaster response training, and strengthening collaboration between Philippine and U.S. civilian, military, and humanitarian agencies.”

According to the US Embassy, USAID has distributed nearly Php19.6 billion ($344 million) in disaster relief and recovery aid and has helped improve the disaster risk reduction capacity in the Philippines since 2010.

The US government has provided $1 million worth of humanitarian aid to those affected by the impact of Tropical Cyclone Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). https://

--Mariel Celine Serquiña/ VAL, GMA Integrated News