Iloilo City plans to extend financial aid to ‘Agaton’-hit LGUs

The Iloilo City government plans to extend financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) in Capiz and Northern Iloilo that were affected by tropical depression “Agaton” last week.

Mayor Jerry Treñas bared his plans to give financial aid to LGUs that suffered damages due to tropical depression Agaton in a press conference on Monday, April 18, 2022.

According to Treñas, he is still waiting for the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (CDRMMC) on the assistance to be extended to the LGUs.

“Ginahulat ko pa ang recommendation sang aton CDRRMC through Donna Magno para makahatag kita bulig sa mga probinsya nga naapektuhan gid sang bagyo,” he said.

The mayor added that the city government is planning to utilize a portion of the calamity fund as the financial assistance to the affected LGUs.

“Kinahanglan maagi gid sa proseso. Ginatan-aw ta part sang aton election funds so lantawon pa naton, kon indi pa pwede subong, kinahanglan mahulat kita matapos ang election ban,” he said.

While the city was spared from the wrath of “Agaton,” Treñas said the city has the responsibility to help neighboring LGUs.

“Kita bilang isa sa LGUs nga wala ma-igo sang bagyo, dapat responsibilidad ta nga magbulig sa mga affected LGUs. Kadamo sang naapektuhan sa Northern Iloilo kag Capiz,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Treñas commended the five-man Urban Search and Rescue Team of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) who went beyond their call of duty and augmented the search and retrieval operations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Capiz and Northern Iloilo last April 14-17.

The team, composed of Darwin Joemil Papa, Darryl Darwyn Thusalidas, Jefferson Tan, Errol Gabayeron, and Reynaldo Salazar Jr. was deployed by the city government to help in the search and rescue operations in the neighboring LGUs.

“I am thankful and extremely proud of them for going beyond their call of duty, and lending a helping hand to those badly hit by the floods in other parts of Panay,” he said. (DG)