Australian Ambassador Visits Fair Trade Shop Cebu

In a courtesy call, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Tweddell, visited the Fair Trade Shop Cebu last October 29. The Fair Trade Shop Cebu is among the beneficiaries of the Australian Government’s financial aid program to the Philippines.

The Australian government gave out a total of A$140 million (P5.6 billion) to the Philippines to aid the country in disaster risk reduction management; provincial roads building, improving and management; educational services; and for other resilience/ disaster preparedness efforts.

The Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center, Inc. (SPFTC), the operator of the Fair Trade Shop, received a grant of P1.8M in 2011 to fund its projects for its member farmers, who are the local producers of the products they endorse.

The program, known as the Philippine-Australian Community Assistance Program (PACAP), is the longest running funding initiative, existing for 26 years and funded by the Australian government. It was established in 1986, as the latter’s response to help the Philippines re-position itself after the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986.

Basic needs such as food, water, shelter and medicines are among those urgently needed in Bohol after the earthquake. (Image credit: www.rappler.com)

More recently, the government of Australia released support to the Philippines amounting to A$3.1 million (P124 million) for the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which hit Central Visayas last October 15.

The financial aid includes A$1.1 million (P44 million) worth of supplies such as family survival kits containing sleeping mats, mosquito nets and water containers. The aid was coursed through the Philippine Red Cross and the World Food Programme. Health and dignity kits were also given to the women affected, through the UN Population Fund.

Other than these, the Australian government will give another A$1 million (P40 million) to the victims for shelter, water and sanitation as identified in the UN Action Plan. While a further P40 million shall be provided for the replenishment of the supply needs of the earthquake victims.

“Australia, as a close friend of the Philippines, is supporting the Philippine Government’s efforts to provide relief and meet recovery needs of the people who are suffering from the devastating impact of the earthquake,” said Tweddell.

Thousands of families were displaced in the Zamboanga crisis which broke off last September 9. (Image credit: www.globalnation.inquirer.net

Apart from the earthquake victims, the Australian government also gave out A$500,000 (P20 million) worth of emergency aid for the families who have been displaced by the ongoing crisis in Zamboanga City and Basilan. Fighting between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the splinter group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) broke out last September 9 sending thousands of families to live under temporary evacuation centers, for the fear of infiltration of the MNLF rebels in their homes. Lives of military, rebels and civilians have been claimed since the hostilities started.

Key pressing issues such as resumption of educational and nutritional services, and protection of children and women affected by the conflict are what the aid hopes to address.

“Australia’s additional contribution will help address needs in these areas, including resumption of learning and educational services as soon as possible and provision of critical psycho-social support to affected children. These will provide safe environment to children, help them regain sense of normalcy and support their psychosocial recovery and their education,” Ambassador Tweddell said.

Present during the Ambassador Tweddell’s visit at the Fair Trade Shop were Executive Director of Asia Foundation (PACAP’s handler) Maribel Buenaobra, Representative for SPFTC’s board of directors Fr. Aladdin Luzon, and representatives from the farmer communities, management and production team.

Among the projects initiated by SPFTC for its partner-farmer communities are product support to farmer associations with community education on climate change mitigation and production plan under it; technology, product quality and product developments; and market access, e-commerce and product brochure-flyers. SPFTC was able to sustain Australian government’s funding through the said projects.

These were completed last December 2012.

The Fair Trade Shop is located in Door 1 YMCA Arcade, Osmena Blvd. _(With Press Release)_