MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) has released €800,000 (over PHP 54 million) in humanitarian aid for victims and those affected by the succession of tropical cyclones that hit the Philippines in the past few weeks.
In a news release, the Delegation of the EU to the Philippines shared that the funding will help address the most urgent needs of people in the hardest hit areas, including communities that are also affected by conflict.
“This allocation will be used to provide emergency relief in areas such as shelter, health, and water and sanitation,” the EU stated.
The funding comes in addition to the €6.5 million already allocated this year in humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness to the Philippines, the EU added.
This also includes the €500,000 allocated in response to a previous series of tropical cyclones that affected the country in July.
Children use a makeshift raft to cross a flooded street following rains, intensified by severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, in Dela Paz, Binan, Laguna province, Philippines, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Noel Celis
For now, the EU said that it is closely following the humanitarian situation on the ground after the earthquake which struck Cebu on 30 September.
“The EU expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and stand ready to provide additional support pending on-going needs assessment,” the EU said in a statement.
The EU funding is being made available through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) department of the European Commission.
“With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters around the world every year, providing assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs,” it stated.
Data from the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) shows more than 1.2 million families (4.6 million individuals) were affected due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical storms Mirasol, Nando and Opong (international names Mitag, Ragasa, and Bualoi) in the last quarter of the year.
NDRRMC data also showed that 859 areas were flooded due to non-stop torrential rains in Regions 1, 2, 3, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Regions 5, 6, 9, 12, BARMM, CAR, NCR and Negros Island Region (NIR) due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon and the tropical storms.
