Benguet receives $20M United Nations aid

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet got P20 million worth of financial assistance for province’s program against man-made and natural disasters.          

The United Nations World Food Program (UN–WFP) launched Phase II of its project Oct. 12 to help Tublay, Atok, Kibungan and Kapangan towns’s capacity-building efforts in disaster preparedness and response.

UN- WFP Philippines coordinator Michelle McGonagle said “beneficiaries of Phase I project implementation were Tublay and Atok only.

She said these towns were chosen because of their vulnerability to disasters like landslides.

But with the second phase, more towns were included.

In the first phase of the effort, a strong partnership with local government units, the community and other groups for the attainment of a common goal was built.

With the past implementation, they were able to reduce flooding, more evacuation centers were provided, and quick response operations were conducted.

With the help, the Benguet towns were happy with the assistance from the agency, said Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan.

UN partnered with local groups -- Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. and the University of the Philippines–Baguio for these programs.