EU commends gov’t preparedness for typhoon ‘Ruby’, assures assistance to PHL

European Union (ShutterStock)

MANILA — The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides has commended the Philippine government in its preparedness for typhoon “Ruby” which is currently batting the Visayas and Southern Luzon regions.

In a statement, Stylianides said, “Let me commend the Philippines authorities who have taken swift measures and did an excellent job in relocating people from the exposed areas at the first signs of the storm approaching.”

“Immense efforts have been invested in disaster preparedness work in the Philippines in the past year, and the population is more aware of the need for a timely evacuation from coastal areas,” he added.

Base on the report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Sunday morning, local government units (LGUs) in typhoon-hit areas conducted pre-emptive evacuation to 146,875 families or 716,639 individuals. Particularly, these evacuees are in regions of Calabarzon (IV-A), Mimaropa (IV-B), Bicol (V), Western Visayas (VI), Central Visayas (VII), Eastern Visayas (VIII), and Caraga (XIII).

There were no casualties so far based on the update of the NDRRMC after typhoon “Ruby” made its first landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday while the second landfall was over Cataingan, Masbate around 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Stylianides noted that the EU is ready to help the Philippines in any assistance the country needs.

“The Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in Brussels is closely monitoring the situation and is liaising with humanitarian organizations on the ground to ensure a coordinated approach in case the needs emerge,” he said.

“We are also doing our part. The European Commission is dispatching a team of humanitarian experts to the Philippines to support the response and to help assess potential needs for assistance,” he noted.

“The Philippines are not alone as they brace up for a possible hardship. The EU supported the emergency response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of last year’s super-typhoon Haiyan and we will again do our best to assist those who need our help,” Stylianides added.