VP Binay’s Abot-Kamay Programs in Times of Disaster

GREETINGS and Happy Reading to:

The Angeles City Public Elementary School Principals Association (PESPA) will hold a despedida party today at Km86 Restaurant for one of the most dedicated and hardworking principals the city ever had. The 65-year-old Manuel Duenas, Principal III of Sta. Maria Elementary School, Balibago will be retiring as a public servant but not as a loyal supporter and campaigner of former Congressman Blueboy Nepomuceno, 1st District of Pampanga.

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Happy Fiesta to our fellow residents of Barangay Cutcut on August 16, especially to our exemplary Barangay Chairwoman Cecil C. Nepomuceno and Kagawads.
On August 28, Barangay Pulung Cacutud chaired by multi-awarded Barangay Captain Tony Trinidad and Kagawads will likewise celebrate their fiesta.

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VICE President Jejomar C. Binay urged the finance department to take immediate steps to release seized items from the Bureau of Customs (BoC) for the government’s relief efforts. In a letter to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, the Vice President recommended the use of confiscated goods at the BoC to cater to the needs of those affected by heavy rains that pounded Luzon this week.

“In view of the devastation caused by torrential rains in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, I recommend we take immediate steps to release rice, food items, clothing and other similar items seized by the Bureau of Customs to the concerned government agencies for immediate distribution to the evacuees,” Binay wrote.

The BoC recently seized 420,000 bags of illegally imported rice from India and 45,000 bags from Vietnam. Binay visited Wednesday Hermogenes Baustista Elementary School and Nangka Elementary School that serve as temporary shelters for Marikina residents who lost their homes due to flood.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has provided relief assistance to evacuees in Montalban, Sto. Domingo Church, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center and Bagong Silangan.

Earlier, the OVP also conducted simultaneous relief operations to victims of typhoon Gener in Tondo, Negros Occidental, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro, Bulacan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Rizal. The OVP staff continues to pack relief goods to be distributed to other affected areas.

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Binay likewise instructed the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to set up satellite offices to accept and process calamity loans and provide other services to members affected by massive flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“Layon naming matulungan ang mga kababayan nating nasalanta. Sa pamamagitan ng satellite offices, magiging madali na sa kanila ang pag-file ng application para sa calamity loan,” Binay said.

Pag-IBIG has placed desks at the Lingkod Pinoy Counters of Robinsons Malls in Galleria in Ortigas; Ermita in Manila; Metro East in Pasig; Novaliches; Imus and Dasmariñas in Cavite; Sta. Rosa in Laguna; and Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The Fund will also deploy mobile desks in the city/municipality halls of Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela and Navotas. In Cavite, Pag-IBIG members may apply for calamity loans in mobile desks in Naic Municipal Hall on August 10 and in Ternate Municipal Hall on August 13. In Laguna, loan applications may be processed in San Pablo City Hall and in Laguna Provincial Capitol in Sta. Cruz. Meanwhile, Pag-ibig members in Bulacan may go to the Provincial Capitol in Malolos for their loan applications.

“Most Pag-ibig branches in the affected areas are open. Those that are flooded will resume operations once the water subsides,” Pag-IBIG President and CEO Atty. Darlene Berberabe said. Eight cities in the National Capital Region, five provinces and 12 cities and municipalities have been declared under state of calamity after typhoon Gener and the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm Haikui pounded Luzon with heavy rains.

Pag-ibig members in these areas may borrow as much as 80 percent of their total contributions at an interest rate of 5.95 percent. The loan shall be amortized in 24 months with a grace period of three months. Those who want to avail of the loan should bring a duly accomplished Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan Application Form, signed and certified by the employer, and two identification cards (IDs). The Cavite branch of Pag-IBIG has been receiving 1,000 applications for calamity loans a day since 14 towns were declared under state of calamity last week.

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The Office of the Vice President (OVP) also conducted simultaneous relief operations to victims of typhoon Gener in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. In a report to Binay, OVP Assistant Secretary Rosalie Licauco said the OVP distributed relief bags containing instant noodles, corned beef, sardines, tuna, biscuits to affected families in San Miguel and Balagtas in Bulacan as well as in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija. According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, strong winds and flooding caused by Typhoon “Gener” ravaged many farmlands in Bulacan and destroyed over P29 million worth of agricultural crops. It also caused the flooding of six villages in Cabanatuan City. “We will continue to monitor the affected areas and coordinate with the concerned LGUs so that relief assistance may be brought to them immediately,” Binay said. Binay also said his office delivered 3,000 bags of relief goods to the residents of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro where heavy rains caused landslides and massive flooding. He added that the OVP finished distributing relief goods in the towns of Calasiao, Rosales and Bugallon in Pangasinan as well as in the towns of Abucay, Hermosa, Bagac, Morong and Orani in Bataan. “Lagi pong handa ang aming tanggapan sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Binay said. The Vice President through his 2012 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has allocated funds for relief operations as well as other social services, including the provision of school supplies and burial assistance.