Monday, March 09, 2009 [ manilatimes.net ]
LEGAZPI CITY: Despite the economic meltdown, the Spanish government vowed to continue with their financial aid to the Philippines to reduce poverty, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Romero Arias told The Manila Times.
“We’re really committed to the future of the Philippines because we believed in the Filipinos. As sister countries, the Philippines and Spain, ratify our commitment and clear interest to cooperate and reduce poverty in the rural sector and mitigate the impact of climate change.” he said.
“The ongoing global economic crisis will not hamper and affect our projects in the Philippines. In fact, we’re increasing our budget allocation for the cooperation and development projects in the Philippines,” Arias continued.
Besides reducing poverty, the Spanish envoy said that they’re committed to helping Albay following Gov. Joey Salceda’s aggressive campaign to mitigate the impact of global warning that aggravates natural calamities.
This year, the Spanish government according to Arias has allocated at least 17 million euros as its initial budget allocation, which he expects to be doubled, even tripled before the end of the year.
The bulk of the projects and financial aid will be channeled to the war-torn regions of Mindanao and assist the displaced families there.
The Spanish envoy along with his wife Señora Soledad Lavina and key officials from Spanish Embassy visited the cities of Legazpi and Ligao on Friday, including the town of Daraga to officially handover the Spanish government’s financial assistance to Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda.
Salceda in his acceptance speech said that the Spanish government poured in P160.5-million financial assistance in Albay.
These projects are the P15-million rehabilitation of the Josefina Belmonte Duran Hospital in Ligao City, including top of the line medical equipment.
This project is part of the Spanish Cooperation program to restore the hospital that was badly affected by Typhoon Durian or super Typhoon Reming last 2006.
“We’re very grateful to the Spanish government and to the people of Spain who responded immediately to help the Albayanos during the Mayon eruption and the catastrophic disaster that took place in Albay in 2006.” Salceda said.
The government of Spain through the Agencia Española de Cooperacion International para el Desarrolo has been providing support to those affected by the natural disasters that cause so much suffering to the Philippines particularly in Albay province.
During the years 2007 and 2008, a total of five joint projects with the local government have been approved for a total amount of P80 million allocated to the rehabilitation of Josefina Belmonte Duran Hospital.
In Daraga town, the intervention of Spanish Cooperation focus on the victims of all types of disasters with the objective of meeting their basic needs, reestablishing their rights and securing their protection.
The Spanish government poured in at least P14 million for the construction of fully equipped evacuation centers.
The construction of this center will improve and ensure the safety of residents who live within the 6 to 11 kilometers from Mount Mayon. The center is expected to accommodate at lest 2,475 families.
Another major grant being given by the Spanish government to the city government of Legazpi is the P93 million solid waste management project.
This project is aimed at promoting adequate and sustainable management to efficiently address the environmental problems in the entire Metropolitan area of Legazpi City.
“The urban waste management is key element of sustainable management, this is sometimes a difficult task and one that is costly to undertake. That is why we praise Mayor Noel Rosal’s vision for the implementation of this project which will undoubtedly contribute in a decisive manner to improve the living conditions of the residents of Legazpi,” Ambassador Arias said.-- Rhaydz B. Barcia