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US, Canada expand assistance to victims
by: Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
(Source: The Manila Times News Online – 10/19/09)

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States and Canada, major donors to the Philippines that is still reeling from back-to-back killer typhoons, have announced that they are extending more assistance to Filipino calamity victims. Fresh from a pledge of continuing aid by US President Barack Obama, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution expressing Capitol Hill’s sympathy and assistance to the Philippines' relief and rehabilitation efforts following the devastation wrought by tropical storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng.

Authored by congresswoman Jackie Speier (Democrat, San Francisco and San Mateo), House Resolution 800 passed unanimously on October 14. The measure acknowledges the close ties between Manila and Washington.

"The historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States run deeper than any floodwaters," Speier told her colleagues during a presentation on the House floor.

Speier, whose district accounts for the biggest concentration of Filipino-Americans in the United States, told The Manila Times that the resolution was more than just a demonstration of solidarity with the burgeoning ethnic Filipino population in America.

"There's also a resolve clause that urges the President [Obama] to continue to support the Philippines with emergency relief supplies, and logistical transportation assistance and financial support," she said.

Pledge to Philippines

The US Agency for International Development has so far allocated $1.8 million to help the disaster victims, Obama said in recent statement.

Speier said the United States also wanted to work closely with the Philippine government to improve its disaster-mitigation techniques in order to help minimize the recurrence of the massive destruction on lives and property caused by natural calamities.

She added that the US could provide expertise and technology in disaster response and preparedness on top of more immediate assistance, like rescuing disaster victims and providing relief goods.

Speier noted that with more than three million residents, the Filipino-American population is her country's second-largest Asian-American community has become an economic, social and political force, especially in California.

Canadian commitment

Meanwhile, Canada, which earlier committed $5 million in immediate disaster assistance to Manila, is offering special measures to facilitate immigration to Canada to those affected by the natural calamities, according to Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

"I would like to express my deepest sympathy and support for the people of the Philippines affected by this terrible disaster," said Kenney. "Our government is moving quickly to reunite Canadians and permanent residents with their families by extending a welcome to those who wish to come to Canada."

Effective immediately, Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s visa office in the Philippines will respond on a priority basis to those directly affected by the disaster. The measure applies to both new and existing applications from Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who have close family members in the Philippines.

They must, however, identify themselves as being directly and significantly affected by the current situation and notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

New sponsorship applications should have "Philippines" prominently written on the mailing envelope. Sponsors and applicants from Canada whose applications are being processed are asked to call 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only) to identify their existing applications, and if they or the family they have sponsored have been adversely affected by the storms.

Temporary residence applicants will be given priority processing by the visa office in Manila once they also demonstrate that they have been significantly affected by the recent storms.

More information can be obtained from Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.

Earlier, Canada pledged up to $5 million for humanitarian assistance and early recovery aid for the typhoon victims. The donation was announced last week by International Cooperation Minister Beverley Oda.