ANDANAR: US EMBASSY COMMITS AID FOR VISMIN
MANILA -
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
along with other PCOO executives met with United States Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Heather
C. Variava on Tuesday, where the latter has committed to extend humanitarian
aid to families in Visayas and Mindanao that were affected by Super Typhoon
Odette.
Secretary Andanar
expressed his gratitude to the US Embassy’s generosity while other parts of the
country are also responding to the calamity.
“We’ve been
calling on the public and to everyone to display genuine compassion and
generosity to our kababayans who are seeking shelter and warmth after their
homes were wrecked by the typhoon,” he said.
“And we are very
thankful for the charity and support that the US Embassy and Chargé d'Affaires Variava
has shown us in order to help those who are still in need of our assistance,”
he added.
The two officials
met at the American official’s residence in Makati City.
They also
discussed new cooperation efforts, including the development of the Government
Communication Academy (GCA).
Chargé d'Affaires Variava is in favor of building
cooperation efforts in communications, specifically to support the operations
of the GCA. They also discussed communication education exchange to advance
skills and experiences of FIlipino media workers, and the Philippines
participation in other US Capacity building projects.
“I am thrilled
for this possible cooperation that we will be having in the coming months. I
hope that this will push through so that when we leave our office next year, we
can leave something for state media workers in PCOO,” Secretary Andanar said.
Secretary Andanar
previously bared that the PCOO plans to tie up with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP),
University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) and Northern Bukidnon State
College (NBSC) in crafting programs for the GCA that will be attuned to the
needs of state media workers.
Delegates include
US Embassy Public Affairs Officer Mr. John Groch, Press Attache Ms. Heather
Fabrikant, and Mr. Stephen Dove; and PCOO USec. Kristian Ablan and USec. George
Apacible.
