PHL ready to accept unconditional foreign aid for disaster-hit areas —DSWD

The Philippines will welcome any assistance from foreign governments and organizations for the communities affected by typhoons Karen and Lawin, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said on on Monday.

This is as long as the foreign aid has no accompanying conditions, Taguiwalo said.

"Handa tayong tanggapin ang tulong na ito batay sa ating pangangailangan at batay sa walang kundisyon," Taguiwalo said.

"Ibig sabihin, bukal na loob na tulong ng mga mamamayan ng mga organisasyon, ng mga pamahalaan sa ibang bansa para tulungan tayong bumangon,” she added.

In a press briefing in Malacañang, Taguiwalo said that her previous social media post only meant that the Philippine government was able to provide assistance before and during typhoons Karen and Lawin battered North and Central Luzon the past few days.

“Pasensya na kung ang dating ng komento na iyon ay kaya na natin ito at hindi na natin kailangan ng foreign aid," Taguiwalo said on Facebook on Sunday.

Ang paglilinaw ho na ginagawa ko ngayon ay nakayanan natin nitong nakaraan bago dumating at pagdating ng Karen at ng Lawin ang pagtulong, ang maagap na pagtulong sa ating mamamayan,” she added.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited typhoon-hit areas on Sunday.

She said the government would continue to assess the specific assistance needed to help the typhoons victims.

“Ang sinasabi natin nakayanan natin itong mga nakaraang araw, patuloy ang pagtatasa natin, pag-assess ng extent ng damage at nagpapasalamat ho tayo sa mga kaibigan, na mga indibidwal, organisasyon at ibang bayan na nagpaabot na na handa silang tumulong," Taguiwalo said.

"Darating din ho kami diyan. Kailangan lang naming magpulong pa para mas maging malinaw anong klaseng tulong ho ang kailangan natin at gaano kalaki ito,” she added.

Based on initial aerial inspections of the affected areas, the typhoons took a toll on some of Luzon’s agricultural lands, livestock, buildings including schools, and houses of the residents.

Taguiwalo said that as of October 24 at 4 a.m., Cordillera Region had the most number of affected families at 66,875 or 304,796 individuals. The rest are as follows:

•     Cagayan Valley - 59,319 families or 283,953 individuals
•     Ilocos  - 52,655 families or 264,778 individuals
•     Central Luzon  - 32,498 families or 138,657 individuals

Taguiwalo also sought to clarify an earlier social media post that many perceived as an indication that the country needed no foreign aid in dealing with the effects of both tropical cyclones. —NB, GMA News