DFA: Foreign aid for 'Sendong' victims now at $22.44M

The foreign aid to victims of Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) has gone up to $22.444 million, as more donations and pledges continued to pour in, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday. As of Jan. 6, the DFA said the total of $22,443.887.98 in assistance included $11,495,824.03 cash, $5,354.063.95 in kind and $5,594,000 in pledges. "The amount includes those from Filipino communities, Philippine Embassies and Consulates General around the world and private individuals/groups.  It does not include donations or pledges without equivalent monetary value, or those given to the United Nations flash appeal," it said. New donors include:

Spain provided additional assistance worth $1,576,325.89 cash. The Filipino communities in Suzhou also donated US$1,850.47 cash through the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai, while the Philippine Consulate in Melbourne, headed by an Honorary Consul, gave $23,344.78 cash. For its part, the Filipino community in the United States Northeast, through the Philippine Consulate General in New York, provided an additional $7,270. Private companies have also provided assistance. These include:— LBG, GMA News