Devastating tropical storm Trami has enhanced rainfall from the monsoon and has caused massive flooding in the northern Philippines.
Reports say the northern part of the Philippines were hit with two days of heavy rainfall.
The heavy rainfall caused floods in many roadways particularly in Manila, the capital of the country.
Urgent announcements of declarations of “state of calamity” have been issued as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding. School classes were suspended as well.
Currently, reports says “Trami” is now moving to the northwest and away from the northern Philippines. It is reportedly moving to the west and predicted to become a typhoon before making landfall in northern Taiwan today.
US provides emergency non-food assistance to Philippines
As a committed partner of the Philippines, US Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf today announced that the US government will provide will provide $300,000 for emergency non-food assistance along with an additional contribution of $500,000 for warehousing and logistics support to improve local rapid response efforts.
She announces that USAID/OFDA is also working in close coordination with the Government of the Philippines to conduct assessments of the affected areas, to help identify and prioritize needs, and to coordinate response activities.
US and Philippines as strong allies
On May 1st 2012, in a joint statement of the United States-Philippines Ministerial Dialogue, both countries reaffirmed commitment to strengthen alliance and enhance peace, security, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.
The joint statement between two countries stresses that the U.S.-Philippines alliance is stronger than ever, reflecting the deep and abiding ties linking two nations and forged through a history of shared sacrifice.
The statement underlines that when both countries signed the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951, both nations are united against the spread of communism.
The statement also highlighted that Americans and Filipinos are inextricably bound by common values and shared aspirations, including a commitment to democracy and the rule of law, building a robust economic partnership, and deepening people-to-people ties.
The US-Philippines alliance is rooted not just in a deep history of shared democratic values but in a wide range of mutual concerns.
Both countries have discussed bilateral military cooperation.
The US-Philippines alliance has helped keep both of countries secure for more than 60 years, and it has been a bulwark of peace and stability in Asia.
The United States supports a collaborative diplomatic process by all those involved for resolving the various disputes that they encounter, she stressed.
Two countries’ mutual defense treaty has provided for their common defense and helped to create cooperation between their countries, not only military cooperation but also political and economic, and not only between governments but most importantly between their people.
In November 2011, Secretary Clinton stood side-by-side with her Philippine counterpart Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario aboard the USS “Fitzgerald” in Manila Bay to sign the joint Manila Declaration, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
The Treaty remains the foundation of the bilateral relationship. The Manila Declaration also sets forth a shared vision for strategic, political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation between two nations.
The U.S. government is also working closely with the Philippines to reduce poverty and increase economic prosperity. The U.S. fully supports Philippine efforts to eradicate corruption, to open economic opportunity for all, and to invest in health and education.
