Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III challenged the United States, Japan, and Western European countries to help the Philippines beyond military cooperation.
“Please go to areas afflicted by extreme drought and extend help instead of going for our military bases,” said Pimentel.
“Show that our relationship and partnership is not confined to military matters alone,” he said.
The Senator’s call came after a plea from the United Nations for increased international support to the Philippines in dealing with the dire consequences of one of the strongest El Niño episodes in history.
To date, the El Niño phenomenon has already caused an estimated PHP 4.3 billion loss on agriculture and livelihood.
In the face of widespread devastation caused by the drought, Pimentel stressed the urgent need for these key allies to demonstrate their genuine concern for the welfare of the Filipino people by providing substantial support to address the crisis and bolster the nation’s economy and livelihoods.
This can dispel any perception that you are here to turn the Philippine into a battleground,” he added.
The Department of Agriculture reported that the country’s crop and livestock production have been severely impacted by months of drought, resulting from intense heat and insufficient rainfall, estimated at PHP 4.3 billion this week, higher than the PHP 3.94 billion reported a week ago.
“The real battle we face is this El Niño and how we Filipinos will survive this prolonged drought,” said Pimentel, noting that while the tensions in the West Philippines Sea are serious threats, ensuring the recovery of Filipinos in the aftermath of El Niño is of paramount importance. “These so-called allies of Philippines must prove that their engagement with the Philippines goes beyond military matters and that their interests extend to helping our economy and restoring lost livelihoods of our citizens,” Pimentel stressed.
