ROME: The Italian Embassy in the Philippines turned over to beneficiaries last week some P84 million worth of post-Typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction projects funded by the Italian government. Ambassador Massimo Roscigno personally turned over the projects to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Tanauan, Northern Leyte Mayor Pel Tecson, a statement from the embassy on Tuesday said.
In Iloilo, the livelihood project targets the northern municipalities of Estancia, Conception, Carles, San Dionisio and Balad, which were all severely affected when super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas in November 2013.
It aims to increase the productivity of 1,500 small farmers and fishermen through the donation to local cooperatives and farmers organizations of agricultural equipments, training in their use, and training modules on production and marketing of local crops. Meanwhile, in Tanauan, 35 new disaster-resilient houses, new mechanized, equipment to 20 farmer cooperatives, and a newly constructed evacuation complex made of four buildings and accommodate at least 600 persons in times of natural calamities or other emergency situations were turned over by the embassy.
In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, First Secretary Fabio Schina attended the completion ceremony of the project that provides for multipurpose evacuation center and emergency facilities dedicated for persons with disabilities. The embassy also turned over about 1,000 farming and fishery equipments to the municipalities of Guiuan and Tanauan for their livelihood.
In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy said the aid is part of Italy’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, which is mainly focused on agricultural development. Roscigno described the projects as testament to Italy’s commitment to the Philippines “not only in development cooperation and emergency and post-emergency aid but also in all other areas of partnership.” Italy’s ODA has previously allotted P2.8 billion for a program targeting rural communities in Mindanao and P150 million for various projects for environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management.
