DONATION. Deputy State Secretary István Joó, Hungarian co-chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation hands over the donation to Fr. Anton Pascual of Caritas Manila (Photo courtesy of the Office of Civil Defence/Hungary Embassy in Manila)
MANILA – Hungary's donated mobile water treatment plant to the Philippine government has been deployed to Catanduanes, one of the hardest-hit areas when Typhoon Rolly made landfall in the country last month.
"In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), this unit has now been successfully deployed in Catanduanes, the area hardest hit by the calamity, to alleviate the shortage of drinking water there," the Hungarian Embassy in Manila said Wednesday.
On top of this, it announced some USD25,000 (approximately PHP1.2 million) in humanitarian assistance to help other families affected by the devastating typhoon.
Hungary, through its aid agency the "Hungary Helps", will partner with Caritas Manila to deliver the relief at the earliest to the victims of "Rolly".
The Embassy said the financial support "will contribute to the relief of the victims and will help to assist the long term mitigation of disasters in the affected region".
Hungary's portable water treatment plant, meanwhile, will be operated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The unit, manufactured by the Hungarian Water Technology Corporation (HWTC) is specifically designed to be "highly efficient and deployable" at a moment’s notice wherever clean drinking water is needed.
"Water management is a field where Hungary has ample experience, cutting edge technology and know-how to deliver assistance to its partners. The country is proud to be able to assist the Philippines as a friend in times of need and to be able to contribute with its knowledge and technology to the betterment of the infrastructure and livelihoods here," the Embassy said.
Previously, Hungary installed a water treatment plant in Eastern Samar in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. (PNA)
