The Ilocos Times

  Philippine  Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) staff share their disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to training participants. Manila —The United States Peace Corps, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently launched the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit, a comprehensive training guide designed to help Peace Corps volunteers and their partner communities build resilience by enhancing their disaster preparedness capability. The DRR Toolkit contains resources on developing disaster preparedness strategies, conducting risk assessments, managing community resources, and strengthening early warning systems.   As an inclusive training guide, the DRR Toolkit promotes the active participation of all community members in pre-disaster planning. From Oct. 14 to 18, 2024, the Peace Corps gathered 28 of its volunteers, staff, and work partners from the Philippine government and non-...

USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks (right) hands over a donation of fishing nets to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc (left) at the Pasuquin Fish Farm on October 10. Laoag City —The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for Internation al Development (USAID), turned over Php5 million (US$89,500) in aquaculture equipment to the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to support fisherfolk in sustainably farming tilapia. USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks handed over the donation to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc at the government-owned Pasuquin Fish Farm on Oct. 10, 2024.   “The United States is proud to support fishers in Ilocos Norte with tools that can increase their income and create resilient communities,” Eubanks said.   “These supplies will help fishers, especially those impacted by the recent Super Typhoon Julian, restore their livelihood and contribute to long-term food security by incre...

USAID mission director Ryan Washburn (5 th from left) and Cagayan provincial administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor (4 th from left) with provincial government staff stand in front of a mobile storage unit handed over by USAID and the World Food Programme. Tuguegarao , Cagayan —On Sept. 9 and 10, 2024, the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), handed over a mobile storage unit and mobile energy systems worth more than PHP11.6 million (US$208,000) to boost Cagayan province’s disaster risk reduction capacity. USAID mission director Ryan Washburn handed over a mobile storage unit that can store 50,000 food packs to Cagayan Provincial Administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor.   The mobile storage unit will allow the provincial government to store food and non-food items so they can rapidly deliver life-saving assistance in the immediate aftermath of disasters. “For many years, USAID has dispatched teams to Cag...

By Noralyn O. Dudt NO MASKS REQUIREMENTS   in public schools   was legislated and executed   by Republican officials   in Iowa, Arkansas,   Arizona, Utah, Texas, Montana,   Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina during the thick of the COVID-19 epidemic.   It was a shocking declaration that   prevented   local governments and school districts from mandating the wearing of masks. It was an executive action that no one expected   as thousands were already dying from the virus   by the   day   and many of the dead   awaiting burials were kept in refrigerated trucks. Indeed a legislation that seemed incomprehensible until we pause to think and ask ourselves, was this one of the   features of "individual liberty" that Republicans espoused? Other issues like gun violence in public schools and other public places want us to scream , "enough is enough,"   let us enact stricter gun laws. But these are cries that have...

  U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law joined Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and HIV AIDS Support House Executive Director Desi Andrew Ching, at the handover ceremony. Manila—The United States government, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), handed over 20,000 bottles of HIV prevention drugs, or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH).   The June 25, 2021 handover coincided with the formal launch of the PHP500 million (US$10.3 million) USAID-PEPFAR program in the Philippines. U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Law reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to support the country in its journey to ending AIDS by 2030 through evidence-based strategies like DOH’s PrEP program. “This first tranche of HIV prevention drugs is an initial step toward achieving the country’s goal of ending AIDS,” said Law.   “We have a long road ahead of us, and the jou...

U.S. Air Force personnel unload weapons and equipment off a KC-10 Extender at Clark Air Base. Manila —Joint United States Military Assistance Group-Philippines (JUSMAG-P) officials delivered PHP183 million (US$3.8 million) worth of weapons and equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Clark Air Base on June 21, 2021. The delivery, funded by both Philippine national funds and US grant assistance, included nine M3P .50 caliber heavy machine guns, 10 mortar tubes and other equipment.   The delivery is intended to enhance the AFP’s counterterrorism and maritime security capabilities. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Bosse, ground programs chief with the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group – Philippines, shows Philippine Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Madumma, contract management for international logistics officer with OJ4, GHQ, AFP, a newly delivered tactical helmet at Clark Air Base. “The United States will continue to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capaci...

Members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element – Philippines conduct Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training for 21 Philippine Coast Guard District-Palawan personnel and crew of PCG vessels across Palawan from Jan. 28 to 31. 2021. Manila —From Jan. 28 to 31, 2021, members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element-Philippines (CMSE PHL) conducted tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) Training for Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL) personnel and the crews of PCG vessels across Palawan as part of the Coast Guard’s Surface Support Force (CGSSF) Boarding Officer Course. Through training scenarios designed to simulate emergencies during maritime law enforcement, maritime security, and maritime search and rescue operations, 21 students were trained on skills to address and manage an injury on the spot.   Progressing through the three phases of TCCC and integrated into CGSSF’s Boarding Officer’s Course, this training strengthened the medical capabilities of the p...

(From left) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 Regional Director and Lead Convenor for Fisheries Management Area 11 Remia Aparri, Acting USAID Environment Office Director Paul Seong, USAID Fish Right Program Chief of Party Nygiel Armada, RMN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Erika Sanchez, and RMN Chairman and President Eric Canoy formally launch the USAID-RMN partnership on marine conservation. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Foundation formalized a media partnership to promote marine conservation in the Philippines.   The partnership will target coastal communities that rely on radio as a source of information and entertainment in the Visayan region, the country’s seafood capital and home to more than 140,000 small-scale fishers.   USAID, through its Fish Right project, and RMN, will produce and distribute messages on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisher...

  DTRA and USAID staff meet with Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi (left), and deliver a donation of more than Php3.6 million in PPE (right) . Manila —The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), distributed PHP14.8 million (US$300,000) worth of regionally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and COVID-19 treatment centers across the Philippines.   This latest donation brings overall U.S. government assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response efforts to nearly Php981 million ($19.8 million).   U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said, “This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19.   During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partne...

Office of the Civil Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, and Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. at a handover of new cots donated by the United States government. Manila —U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced on April 10, 2020 the US government's donation of nearly 1,300 new cots to support the Philippine government's response to COVID-19.  Ambassador Kim stated, "I'm pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners.  We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19."   Joining the Ambassador to receive the cots were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Administrator for the Office of Civil Defense.     In partnership with the P...