PUERTO PRINCESA CITY - Filipino government officials thanked the U.S. Embassy Civil Affairs Team (CAT) for donating disaster relief tents and medical supplies worth about P1.6 million ($30,000).
The recent
donation was to support local humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
preparedness in Palawan province.
The American
Embassy said members of the Philippine Coast Guard and U.S. sailors from the
hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) aided with the delivery of the tents and
supplies, which were turned over to the provincial government during a ceremony
here attended by Palawan Governor Dennis Socrates and U.S. Embassy Acting
Public Affairs Officer Nina Lewis.
The USNS
Mercy has been docked in the Philippines since July 27 to participate in
Pacific Partnership 2022, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian
assistance and disaster preparedness exercise conducted in the
Indo-Pacific.
“The
supplies we received will surely be of great help to our continued disaster
readiness efforts. We are beyond grateful for this donation,”
Socrates said.
“The local
government of Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines have been reliable partners in ensuring that our activities and
projects are well-coordinated and executed to their full potential, and that
members of the U.S. Embassy CAT are properly welcomed and taken care of
throughout our stay in the province,” said U.S. Army Capt. Arthur Kim.
“We continue
to be impressed by the professionalism, dedication, and hospitality of our
Filipino partners and value any opportunity to work with them here in Palawan,”
he added.
The
U.S. Embassy CAT has a longstanding collaboration with the Palawan local
government, military, and coast guard on several initiatives including
educational outreach activities, first responder training, medical and dental
programs, and support in the local Covid-19 response.
“We must
continue to be adaptive and diligent in ensuring that the Philippines and U.S.
partnership remains steadfast and unwavering in the face of global political,
economic, and health-related challenges,” Kim said.
The Pacific
Partnership 2022 team, composed of representatives from Australia, the Republic
of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, will work together with
host and partner nations on a range of activities and projects, specifically
related to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and medical exchanges.
“Pacific Partnership is an amazing program that not only brings assistance and
services, but more importantly, strengthens the bond between partner nations,”
said Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates.
The Pacific Partnership 2022 activities are coordinated with the host nation
and are conducted based on the Philippines’ requirements and requests.
Engagements in Puerto Princesa are scheduled to include seven major health
fairs, two barangay city hall renovation efforts, various band concerts,
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises and presentations, and
other medical efforts including over 200 surgeries planned.
“The impact of disaster emergencies transcends borders and requires
comprehensive coordination among nations for an effective response. I am
confident that the planning and hard work we’ve invested thus far with our
partners will show a long-lasting impact here in the Philippines,” Kim said.
The Pacific Partnership 2022 will conduct missions throughout Oceania and the
Western Pacific. (Cebu Examiner)
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