Turkey strengthens aid programs in the Philippines

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Philippines has successfully organized a medical mission in the district of Sampaloc, its fifth of the six scheduled sessions in the capital Manila.

According to TIKA project assistant Rahib Abdullah, the international development cooperation arm of the Republic of Turkey aims to deliver humanitarian assistance and other health services to Filipinos.

"TIKA has a lot of projects… but it’s more on livelihood assistance in the Philippines,” said Abdullah as quoted by state-run Philippine News Agency.

Abdullah cited the medical equipment TIKA gave a hospital in Marawi City last year.

Abdullah also disclosed a project coordinated with Gawad Kalinga, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation foundation, which will be implemented this month as well as feeding programs in partnership with the Department of Education.

"Previously, we had projects on livelihood assistance on fishing, goods production, rice production and vegetable production," Abdullah said.

Following the success of the projects started in the Philippines’ capital, similar projects are to be replicated in other cities in the country.

Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan revealed that during every session of the medical missions covering six districts in Manila, TIKA gave out five wheelchairs, five nebulizers and five walking sticks.

Lacuna-Pangan said TIKA Philippines’ director told her that feeding programs and other projects will be held in the coming months as the string of medical missions is set to conclude next week.

TIKA is the pioneer institution under the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Turkey responsible for the implementation of development projects and programs in more than 100 countries covering health and humanitarian programs, education and agriculture.