Australia, ILO help Pablo victims

MANILA, Philippines—The Australian government and the International Labor Organization have expanded their partnership to help victims of Typhoon “Pablo” that hit Mindanao in December 2012.

The Australian embassy said in a statement that the Australian Agency for International Development’s and the ILO Philippine office’s initiative on sustainable agricultural livelihood, through a P37.8-million grant, will cover affected residents of Boston and Cateel towns in Davao Oriental.

The embassy said that five months after Pablo hit, families that lost their sources of income still need help.

Many of the victims are unskilled laborers, farmers or unpaid family workers who are vulnerable due to their skills level, low earnings and limited access to social security.

“Responding to natural disasters is a priority of Australia’s aid program in the Philippines,” Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell said in a statement.

The AusAID and ILO project will help create jobs, improve earning opportunities, and promote sustainable agricultural livelihoods using local resources in Boston and Cateel.

The project will help some 1,000 families to have immediate income through emergency employment, and help them transition to longer-term and more sustainable jobs through further reconstruction work in the affected areas.