LGU-Baguio to send Aid to ‘ODETTE’ ravaged areas
The City Government of Baguio is poised to send financial assistance in the amount of P5 million to 44 local government units (LGUs) in the southern regions that were severely hit by Typhoon Odette.
In a special session held on Friday (December 24), the Baguio City Council approved an ordinance allocating the said amount from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Quick Response Fund of the 2021 Annual Budget of the city government.
The Local Finance Committee already issued a certificate of availability of funds for the 5-M financial aid.
The following LGUs shall each receive P100,000.00: Libertad, Antique; Tibiao, Antique; President Roxas, Capiz; Dao, Capiz; Banate, Iloilo; Lemery, Iloilo; Balasan, Iloilo; Valladolid, Negros Occidental; Sagay, Camiguin; Anda, Bohol; Maribojoc, Bohol; Candijay, Bohol; San Julian, Eastern Samar; Maslog, Eastern Samar; Lawaan, Eastern Samar; Maydolong, Eastern Samar; Mercedes, Eastern Samar; General MacArthur, Eastern Samar; Balangiga, Eastern Samar; Sulat, Eastern Samar; Tagapul-an, Samar; Liloan, Southern Leyte; Anahawan, Southern Leyte; Hinundayan, Southern Leyte; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Santiago, Agusan del Norte; Magallanes, Agusan del Norte; Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; Placer, Surigao del Norte; Socorro, Surigao del Norte; Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte; Alegria, Surigao del Norte; Mainit, Surigao del Norte; San Isidro, Surigao del Norte; Surigao City (Siargao), Surigao del Norte; San Agustin, Surigao del Norte; Carmen, Surigao del Norte; and Carrascal, Surigao del Norte.
The following LGUs shall each receive P200,000.00: Buruanga, Aklan; Sigma, Capiz; Silago, Southern Leyte; Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; Bacuag, Surigao del Norte; and Malimono, Surigao del Norte.
CDRRMC officer-in-charge Antonette Anaban said the identified amounts to be given to the aforementioned LGUs were based on the number of affected families and damaged houses therein and the income classification of the LGUs.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday (December 23) that the official death toll already reached 258 while at least 568 were left injured due to Typhoon Odette. Likewise, 47 people have been reported missing.
The NDRRMC further stated that Typhoon Odette, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, caused agricultural losses worth P1.5 billion and infrastructure damages worth P2.5 billion.
The typhoon forced more than 600,000 to leave their homes, the agency also noted.
Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan called on the public to hand their donations to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the typhoon victims.
Olowan lauded the Hotels and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) and its president, Anthony de Leon, for the relief goods donated by the association.
The city legislators underscored that sending financial aid to other local government units experiencing a crisis has become the practice of the City Government of Baguio.
In 2020, LGU-Baguio doled out a total amount of P2.8 million to the provinces in Regions II and V which were ravaged by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. –Jordan G. Habbiling
