Mayor Lino announces P15-million aid for quake-hit Mindanao

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Taguig passed yesterday, Nov. 4, a resolution extending P15-million calamity assistance to the cities and municipalities in Mindanao badly hit by successive earthquakes in recent days.

The move was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call  for immediate relief operations to the local government units in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, many of which have already declared a state of calamity. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, when he called on House members to also donate for those affected by the quake, recommended to give cash as assistance to “help in the local economy” of the affected areas especially if the goods will also be bought in their localities.

According to the resolution, the calamity assistance to the victims of the earthquakes that struck from Oct. 16 to 31 will be distributed to various areas including the City of Digos, Magsaysay, Bansalan, Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Kabilawan, Malalag, Matan-ao, Padada, Sulop, City of Kidapawan, Makilala, Magpet, M’lang, Tulunan, Province of North Cotabato and Province of Davao del Sur.

It is also in line with the Taguig administration’s ten-point agenda that emphasizes a caring and safe community. Mayor Lino Cayetano said the assistance primarily aims to assist the displaced families affected by the calamity. Last week, various areas in Mindanao were rocked by powerful quakes which took the lives of more than 20 people, wounded hundreds and damaged homes and properties.

Taguig City has also offered its condolences and prayers to the families who lost their families during the tragedy.

“We also pray for strength and comfort to the people of Mindanao who lost their homes and other properties caused by the series of quakes. Let us all unite that during these trying times people will see through dark times and recover from the calamity,” said Mayor Lino.

This is not the first time Taguig has extended a helping hand to other LGUs in need of assistance.

In January 2018, the city council approved the release of P3,000,000 in calamity assistance to Albay, which had been placed under a state of calamity after the continuous eruptions of Mayon Volcano.

Seven months later, Taguig held a food distribution for Marikina, where thousands were displaced due to the monsoon rains reinforced by Tropical Storm Karding. This was despite the fact Taguig was also affected by the weather disturbance.

In September 2017, Taguig officials made a personal visit to war-torn Marawi and turned over 46 crates of relief goods to the disaster operation center of Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10. This was apart from the P1.5 million in calamity assistance given to the city.

Taguig also handed over a P1-million calamity assistance to the residents of  Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Abra and Benguet, which had been affected by Typhoon Lawin in October 2016.

When Typhoon Nina severely affected Bicol Region in December 2016, Taguig City also provided a P9-million calamity assistance, with its local government officials personally visiting the people of the areas adversely affected.

In January 2014, the local government also turned over a  P1.25 million in calamity assistance funds to five municipalities in Eastern Samar hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda. ###

FILIPINO

Mayor Lino nag-anunsyo ng P15-milyong tulong para sa mga nilindol sa Mindanao

Ipinasa ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Taguig kahapon, ika-4 ng Nobyembre, ang resolusyon na nagpapaabot ng P15-milyon halaga ng calamity assistance sa mga bayan at munisipalidad sa Mindanao na malubhang tinamaan ng sunud-sunod na paglindol nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Ang nasabing hakbang ay tugon sa panawagan ni Pangulong Duterte nang agarang pagtulong sa mga lokal na pamahalaan sa Davao del Sur at North Cotabato, kung saan marami na ang nakasailalim sa state of calamity. Si House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, noong manawagan sa mga kapwa niya kawani sa Kongreso na magbigay din ng tulong mga naapektuhan ng sakuna, nirekomenda nito na mag-abot  ng tulong pinansyal para “matulungan ang lokal na ekonomiya” ng mga apektadong lugar lalo na kung ang mga produktong ibibigay sakanila ay maari rin namang mabili sa kanilang mga bayan.

Ayon sa resolusyon, ang calamity assistance para sa mga biktima ng mga lindol na tumama mula ika-16 hanggang ika-31 ng Oktubre ay ibabahagi sa iba’t-ibang lugar kasama na ang bayan ng Digos, Magsaysay, Bansalan, Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Kabilawan, Malalag, Matan-ao, Padada, Sulop, bayan ng Kidapawan, Makilala, Magpet, M’lang, Tulunan, Lalawigan ng North Cotabato at Lalawigan ng Davao del Sur.

Alinsunod din ito ten-point agenda ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ng Taguig na nagbibigay-diin sa mapag-aruga at ligta na komunidad. Sinabi ni Mayor Lino Cayetano na layon ng nasabing tulong na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng kalamidad. Noong nakaraang linggo lamang, iba’t-ibang lugar sa Mindanao ang niyanig ng malalakas na lindol na kumitil sa buhay ng humigit kumulang 20 katao, daang sugatan at sirang kabahayan at ari-arian.

Ipinaabot din ng Taguig ang pakikiramay at pagdarasal sa mga pamilyang nawalan ng mahal sa buhay noong mangyari ang trahedya.

“We also pray for strength and comfort to the people of Mindanao who lost their homes and other properties caused by the series of quakes. Let us all unite that during these trying times people will see through dark times and recover from the calamity,” wika ni Mayor Lino.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagpaabot ng tulong ang Taguig sa kapwa nito bayang nangangailangan.

Noong Enero nang nakaraang taon, inaprubahan ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ang pagbibigay ng P3,000,000 calamity assistance sa Albay, na sumailalim sa state of calamity matapos ang sunod-sunod na pagputok ng Bulkang Mayon.

Pagkalipas naman ng pitong buwan, namahagi ng pagkain ang Taguig sa Marikina, kung saan libu-libo ang nawalan ng tirahan dahil sa pinagsamang lakas ng habagat at Tropical Storm Karding. Ito ay kahit pa nasalanta rin ng bagyo ang Lungsod ng Taguig. Noong Setyembre 2017, personal na bumisita ang mga opisyales ng Taguig sa Marawi at nag-turn over ng 46 kahon ng relief goods sa disaster operation center ng Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10. Ito ay iba pa sa P1.5-milyong calamity assistance na ibinigay sa siyudad.

Nagbigay rin ang Taguig ng mahigit P1 milyong calamity assistance sa mga residente ng Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Abra at Benguet na naapektuhan ng Bagyong Lawin noong Oktubre 2016.

Noong Enero 2014, nag-turn over rin ng mahigit P1.25-milyong calamity assistance funds ang lokal na pamahalaan sa limang munisipalidad sa Eastern Samar na tinamaan ng Super Typhoon Yolanda.###