The Philippine government is currently not seeking financial assistance from foreign countries to aid victims of Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi), as it still has sufficient funds to respond to the disaster, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
During a briefing on Thursday, Castro was asked whether the country had requested financial help from other nations after Typhoon Tino battered several parts of the Philippines, leaving 188 people dead as of posting time.
‘There has been no call for any foreign assistance because, as of now, we still have funds for situations like this. The frontline agencies also have quick response funds that can be replenished, and if these become insufficient-especially for the local government units (LGUs)-they can be assured that they will receive help from the Office of the President through what we call the local government support funds,’ Castro responded.
Australia, Canada, and the United States, meanwhile, have already expressed their readiness to assist the country in its recovery efforts.
‘But for now, we are not calling for financial assistance, or rather, foreign assistance,’ she also said.
Timor-Leste, the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), has pledged to send more than 100 engineers and firefighters to assist in recovery and cleanup operations in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, for its part, highlighted the Philippines’ appreciation for offers and commitments of support from other countries.
‘We are also deeply heartened by the many messages of sympathy and solidarity that we received from our international partners,’ it said in a statement.