‘FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR’: City to give out P42M to ‘Odette’ affected homes

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said Tuesday that the city government would be releasing P42 million pesos as financial assistance to families affected by Typhoon Odette a week ago.

This, after the city council approved the declaration of a state of calamity in the city via Resolution No. 16 of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

During Treñas’ press conference shortly after the city council session, City DRRM Office chief Donna Magno said P10,000 is allotted to each family with totally damaged houses and P4,300 for those with partially damaged houses.

The mayor said it was the “best option” that the CDRRMC came up with during their meeting on Monday when they decided to recommend a state of calamity.

“We identified with other members of the council [on Monday] the things we could do for those who were affected. To speed up what we could do for them, [the CDRRMC] decided that we would be providing them with financial assistance,” Treñas said.

The beneficiaries were vetted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) from a list of individuals with damaged houses provided by the barangays.

The mayor added that the CSWDO would still vet beneficiaries before finalizing the distribution of the financial aid.

“The list [of damaged houses] was generated by the barangay, and confirmed and ratified by the CSWDO. When you say your house was partially damaged, you will be approached by the CSWDO and check if your house was damaged,” he added.

He stated that the city government would strive to distribute the aid by the end of the year, “so that people can enjoy their new year’s celebration.

“We would be utilizing PhP42 million plus, and we will try to release this as much as possible, hopefully before the end of the year, so we can give it immediately to the people. We want our people to celebrate the New Year with a good feeling of help,” the mayor said.

Aside from financial aid, the city government has also distributed 25 sacks of rice, 25 boxes each of sardines, beef loaf, and corned beef.

The mayor also received 5 boxes of toothbrush, 20 boxes of toothpaste, 19 boxes of shampoo, 13 boxes of soap, 13 boxes of feminine napkins, 24 boxes of meatloaf, and 25 boxes of sardines, which were personally delivered by Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday.

He also mentioned in his press conference that Senators Franklin Drilon and Vicente Sotto III would be turning over materials such as G.I. sheets, bamboo poles, chicken wires, nails, and containers.

CDRRMO’s Situational Report No. 11 issued on Dec. 21 indicated that 72,523 persons were affected by Typhoon Odette, with 45,810 having damaged houses, 6,675 evacuees, and 20,038 affected by clearing operations.

There have also been 9,143 houses which have been damaged by the typhoon, including 405 totally damaged, and 8,738 partially damaged houses.