USAID-BHA pays a visit to Gov. Gonzaga; extends humanitarian support

The USAID – US Agency for International Development’s USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA) led by Regional Director Ben Hemingway, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Dorothy “Dotdot” M. Gonzaga on Monday, March 11, 2024.

The visit aimed to assess the damages caused by the recent flooding brought by the shearline and trough of LPA, providing potential interventions and humanitarian support to the affected people through Davao Flooding Emergency Response, funded by the American People and implemented by Action Against Hunger Philippines and the Catholic Relief Services CRS Philippines in Davao de Oro.

Among others present at the event were Provincial Administrator Lewis Jake Caiman, PSWDO head Josephine Frasco,  Regional Humanitarian Advisor Rachel Gallagher, Disaster Response Officer Paul Brown, Program Development Specialist Nancy Ebuenga, and representatives from Action Against Hunger and CRS Philippines.

Afterward, led by Action Against Hunger in Davao De Oro, the delegation distributed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) kits to the affected people of the Masara landslide as they visited the Masara Resource Operations Center in Nuevo Iloco NHS while a Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) Distribution held at Barangay Poblacion, Mawab.

Not only did Davao de Oro received commitment for assistance from USAID, but also other nearby province and city such as Davao del Norte and Davao City, ensuring that emergency food, shelter, water, sanitation, and essential hygiene items will be delivered, especially to those vulnerable groups affected by the calamities in the earlier month.

Nearly 70 million pesos in fund assistance were allocated by USAID for the recovery efforts in Davao and Caraga Region, addressing the immediate needs of the affected communities. 

Once again, Daghang Salamat USAID for your untiring support to our people of Davao de Oro!

(Photos by Chendy Gonzales of PGO and Armando Fenequito of Radyo Pilipinas  Davao )