Obama OKs tax-deductible Haiyan aid

Paterno R. Esmaquel II

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US President Barack Obama signs a new law that allows tax-deductible donations for Haiyan survivors

HAIYAN AID. President Barack Obama signs a law that allows tax-deductible donations for Haiyan survivors. File photo by AFP

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines thanked the United States on Wednesday, March 26, after US President Barack Obama legalized tax-deductible donations for Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors.

Through the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, American taxpayers can “continue making tax-deductible donations to typhoon victims in the Philippines until April 15,” the Philippine Embassy in the United States said in a statement.

The embassy said Obama signed this law on Tuesday, March 25.

“The immediate signing by President Obama of the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act underscores the importance the US government places on the immediate recovery of typhoon-devastated areas in the Philippines,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr said.

US Senator Mazie Hirono, one of the sponsors of the law, said the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act “will provide tax relief this year for families who have already donated and incentivize others to make new contributions.”

‘Win win’

“Given the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines needs as much assistance as Americans can provide and this bill will help taxpayers s they seek to alleviate that suffering – it’s a win win,” said another sponsor, Senator Robert Menendez.

The US is one of the Philippines’ biggest sources of aid after Yolanda.

In a forum with reporters on Tuesday, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg said his country has donated around $90 million (P4.055 billion) for post-Yolanda efforts.

He said the US is also coordinating with Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson.

Housing and livelihood remain the Philippines’ biggest challenges in rehabilitation, Goldberg said. (READ: ‘Stop exodus of jobs after Haiyan’) – Rappler.com

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II

Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He finished MA Journalism in Ateneo and MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email pat.esmaquel@rappler.com