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Ph gov’t provides P56.2 million assistance to Typhoon victims

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MALACANANG, Philippines – The government has provided P56.2 million in assistance to those affected by Typhoon Nona, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.
The Palace official said the funds were distributed to the typhoon victims in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 4-A (Calabarzon), 4-B (Mimaropa), 5 (Bicol) and 7 (Central Visayas).
“Sa huling ulat ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), nakapamahagi na ng humigit-kumulang 56.2 milyong piso na halaga ng tulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong ‘Nona’ sa Regions II, IV-A, IV-B, V at VIII,” said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma said the Department of Social Welfare and Development) has prepared an estimated P674 million as standby funds, P111.5 million worth of food and non-food items and more than 204,000 food packs in its regional offices in Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and CARAGA as well as in its national operations center in Manila for those who need assistance.
The Palace official said the government assistance included those who were affected by Typhoon Onyok.
“Patuloy ang isinasagawang humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, at rescue efforts ng pamahalaan sa mga lugar na apektado ng mga nagdaang bagyong ‘Nona’ at ‘Onyok’ alinsunod sa gabay at pag-uutos ng Pangulo.
“Nito lamang nakaraang Biyernes ipinalabas ng Pangulo ang Proclamation No. 1186 na nagdedeklara ng state of national calamity upang higit pang mapabilis ang pagbibigay ng karampatang ayuda sa mga lalawigang tinamaan ng mga bagyo at upang pairalin ang price control bilang pagpigil sa maaaring pagsasamantala sa presyo ng mga pangunahing pagkain at kagamitan,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Coloma said the recent ambush on a convoy delivering relief goods in Samar will not hamper government operations to help typhoon victims.
On Friday, suspected members of the New People’s Army ambushed Army soldiers doing relief operations for Typhoon Nona.
“Ito ay convoy ng mga relief goods pati mga iba pang materyales na kinakailangan para sa mga apektadong pamilya ng typhoon ‘Nona’ doon sa northern Samar, at ang DSWD ay escorted by AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel nang sila ay tinambangan doon sa isang bahagi ng bandang Samar,” said Coloma.
“Ngunit hindi natitinag ang pamahalaan at higit pa nating pinaiigting ang pagpapaabot ng tulong sa ating mga mamamayang naapektuhan ng bagyo sa kabila ng naganap na pagtambang ng mga hinihinalang miyembro ng NPA (New People’s Army) na ikinasugat ng dalawa sa ating mga sundalo mula sa 546 engineering battalion at 81st division reconnaissance company na noon ay nagsasagawa ng humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kasama ang mga personnel ng DSWD sa bayan ng Pinabacdao, Samar,” the Palace official added.
Coloma said that government security forces are coordinating with DSWD to ensure the safety of relief operations personnel.
“Patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng AFP at PNP (Philippine National Police) sa DSWD upang madagdagan ang seguridad para sa mga nangunguna sa relief operations. Sa aming pananaw, malaki ang maitutulong ng nailabas na deklarasyon ng Pangulo na unilateral suspension of military operations noong Biyernes upang higit pang mapabilis ang paghahatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan mula sa mga lalawigan ng Albay, northern Samar, Oriental (Mindoro), Romblon, at Sorsogon na apektado ng Typhoon ‘Nona’ at doon din sa dapat mabigyan ng tulong sa mga naapektuhan naman ng Typhoon ‘Onyok’,” Coloma further said.

Criselda Cabangon David, a happy mother of two kids, is a full-time Sociologist at the City Government of Lucena, Quezon Province. She is currently the Managing Editor of Ang Diaryo Natin Sunday News, a weekly local community newspaper in the Philippines and an active member of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.