UN gives Benguet P20M

THE United Nations World Food Program (UN–WFP) extended its helping hands to Benguet to prepare it for man–made or natural disasters.

It allocated over P20 million for the province.

The agency launched Phase II of its project on October 12 at the Provincial Capitol that aims to help Tublay, Atok, Kibungan, and Kapangan in terms of calamities.

The project is a capacity–building support for government in disaster preparedness and response.

“The UN–WFP has allotted over P20 million for the province of Benguet, which now includes Kibungan and Kapangan,” said UN- WFP Philippines coordinator Michelle McGonagle in an interview with Sun.Star Cordillera.

She said beneficiaries of Phase I project implementation were Tublay and Atok only. She added these towns were chosen because of their vulnerability to disasters like landslides.

She also said that in Phase I, they were able to build strong partnership with local government units, the community and other groups for the attainment of a common goal.

McGonagle said they were able to reduce flooding, more evacuation centers were provided, and quick response operations were practiced in Phase I.

McGonagle hopes the good progress of the program will continue for Phase II.

Governor Nestor Fongwan and the different municipal mayors of the four towns thanked the UN–WFP for choosing the province as one of its beneficiaries in the country.

The Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. and the University of the Philippines–Baguio (UPB) are the local partners of the UN–WFP in the implementation of the program.