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Saturday, May 24, 2008
Arroyo releases P500M for 'Cosme' victims
PANGASINAN -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday ordered the release of P500 million for emergency shelter assistance to victims of typhoon Cosme following an aerial inspection in Lingayen, Pangasinan and in Sta. Cruz, Zambales to personally see the damage wrought to the calamity-affected areas.
Arroyo also led the distribution of about 5,000 sacks of rice, P263,000 worth of reconstructions materials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority including 200 pieces corrugated GI sheets, and 200 pieces of plywood in Zambales.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
The President ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to use the P500 million mostly for the purchase of additional corrugated GI sheets.
Related stories:
'Cosme' death toll rises to 37
Lawmaker gives out relief goods to typhoon victims
Cosme wreaks havoc on Baguio
Presidential deputy spokesman and NDCC executive director Anthony Golez said the P500 million is part of the support fund extended by NDCC to provinces "because they will be shouldering other materials using their five percent calamity fund as agreed by PDCC (Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council)."
Golez said the President during the event also directed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) to extend calamity assistance to its members that were affected by the typhoon.
President Arroyo also ordered the education department to fast-track the repairs and rehabilitation of damaged schools in time for the school opening next month, and the expediting of the re-energization of Pangasinan and Zambales provinces by May 26.
Power has yet to be fully restored in parts of the two provinces as of Friday noon.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) was likewise instructed by Arroyo to extend assistance to damaged farmlands.
She ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that health surveillance teams would be deployed and present in the affected areas to prevent any outbreaks.
During the relief distribution, Arroyo also gave out cash assistance of P10,000 to the family of Benjamin Admana who suffered a heart attack at the height of the typhoon and P5,000 to the family of Joanna Melu who was injured during the onslaught of Cosme.
After the event, Arroyo proceeded to Guiguinto in Bulacan to inspect and witness the loading of Department of Education textbooks that would be distributed to the different public schools. She also inspected the classrooms and new armchairs distributed to the Malis Elementary School.
During her visit to Pangasinan, the Chief Executive instructed Governor Amado Espino Jr. and the mayors to use, for the meantime, their respective calamity funds in their rehabilitation works.
The province's calamity fund amounts to P65 million.
Pangasinan has been under state of calamity since Tuesday.
The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) said damages in infrastructure and agriculture caused by typhoon Cosme was estimated at P4,306,848,090.
The amount of damages could still increase, as reports from local government units are not yet complete. (JMR/LCMY/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (May 24, 2008 issue)
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