Baguio sends P5-million aid to Typhoon-battered areas
The Summer Capital will send P5 million in financial assistance to 44 municipalities and cities devastated by typhoon Odette.
In a special session Friday, the City Council approved an ordinance allocating the amount from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officeβs Quick Response Fund of the cityβs 2021 annual budget.
The Local Finance Committee already issued a certificate of availability of funds for the financial aid.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan who serves as acting mayor suggested the move to the august body to help alleviate the plight of residents severely affected by the typhoon.
The following LGUs shall receive P100,000 each: 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.
Receiving P200,000, meanwhile, are: Buruanga, Aklan; Sigma, Capiz; Silago, Southern Leyte; Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; Bacuag, Surigao del Norte; and Malimono, Surigao del Norte.
CDRRMO chief Antonette Anaban said the amounts are based on the number of affected families and damaged houses in the LGUs and their income classifications.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Thursday 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.
It 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 and forced more than 600,000 persons to leave their homes.
Olowan advised the public to hand their donations to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the typhoon victims as he lauded the Hotels and Restaurant Association of Baguio and its president, Anthony de Leon, for the relief goods donated by the association.
The city councilors said that sending financial aid to other LGUs experiencing a crisis has become the practice of the city government.
In 2020, the city doled out P2.8 million to the provinces in Regions II and V that were ravaged by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. – Gaby Keith and Jordan Habbiling
