THE Provincial Capitol yesterday distributed some P1.91 million cash assistance to 293 families in the towns of Sibonga and Barili who survived the devastation caused by typhoon Seniang in December 2014.
The Province led by Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale also handed over relief assistance to 897 farmers affected by the dry spell in Barangays Budbud and Balao in Barili.
Davide said that some procedures were followed, such as making the list of the beneficiaries, gathering of records and the approval of supplemental budget, which took time before the cash assistance was released for distribution.
“We tried our best to deliver the assistance on time,” the governor said.
Capitol cashier Maricar Rosario said that the beneficiaries, whose houses were destroyed by Seniang, received P10,000 each, while P5,000 each for those families who houses were damaged.
In Sibonga, 51 families received P10,000 each and 149 families got P5,000 each.
There were some families also tried to ask for assistance but they did not receive any from the Province because they were not in the list.
Davide, however, assured them that the local government unit of Sibonga will take care of their financial assistance.
The distribution of financial aid in Sibonga was assisted by Mayor Lionel Bacaltos, Vice Mayor Rey Apuda and the town councilors.
In Barili, 38 families received P10,000 each; 55 families got P5,000 each.
Davide and the other Capitol officials first went to Sibonga with Provincial Board Member (PB) Julian Daan (Cebu, first district) and his wife Yolly attending the distribution of the financial assistance.
In Barili, PB Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero, who represented the third district in the board, joined in the distribution of financial assistance for storm survivors and the relief assistance for farmers whose crops were affected by the dry spell.
“The corn I’ve planted were damaged because of too much heat,” said 37-year old Renato de la Torre, a farmer from Barangay Budbud, who received the relief goods that included three kilos rice, four cans of sardines, two packs of noodles and two liters of mineral water.
Community organizer Emmalinda Ortega said that there were a total of 556 farmer beneficiaries in Barangay Balao and 341 farmer beneficiaries in Barangay Budbud.
Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Cheakbong and the town councilors assisted Davide and other Capitol officials in the distribution of assistance.
“Kabalo ko nga gamay lang na apan kinasing-kasing kining among hinabang (The assistance were only little but it comes from our heart),” said Davide.