PH ready to assist Laos – Palace

THE Philippine government is ready to help Laos, which was hit by floods following the collapse of a dam that left scores of people dead and hundreds missing.

“The Philippine government is ready to extend any humanitarian assistance in whatever way we can,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statrment.

Roque said the Philippines conveyed its heartfelt condolences to neighboring Laos.

“We express our sincerest condolences to the government and people of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic following the collapse of the hydroelectric power dam,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with our Southeast Asian neighbor in these trying times and we pray for the immediate recovery of those who are still missing and unaccounted for,” he added.

Thousands of Cambodians living along the Sekong River have been evacuated amid the torrent of water unleashed by the dam collapse in Laos.

Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said the collapse of the hydropower dam was the worst disaster to hit the small Southeast Asian nation in decades.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, all of the 10 Filipinos living near the affected area were safe.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has also extended the country’s sympathies to Laos.

“Our thoughts are with the government and people of Laos as they cope with this tragedy,” Cayetano said in a statement.