Funds to typhoon victims assured

SENATOR BONG Go assured the government has a working budget for the rehabilitation and recovery of areas hard hit by Super Typhoon Odette (Rai), saying President Rodrigo Duterte will expedite the review and signing of the proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act.

“Minadali na po ni Pangulong Duterte para po pagtuntong ng January 1 or January 3, mayroon na ho tayong working budget. Hindi lang ho dito para sa typhoon but para dito sa COVID response po natin dahil kailangan kaagad ng tulong ng mga kababayan natin at dapat hindi maputol ang ating COVID response. 'Yun naman po ang gusto ng gobyerno, ng bawat isa, ng bawat Pilipino na makabalik tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay. Mabuksan 'yung ekonomiya at makapagtrabaho na po lalung-lalo na po 'yung mga nawalan ng trabaho,” Go said.

Duterte is expected to approve the proposed budget before the end of the year, otherwise the national government will run under a re-enacted budget. The president issued Proclamation No. 1267 putting Regions IV-B, VI, VII, VIII, X, and XIII under a state of calamity to fast track all rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts there.

Go said the president also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to look for funds to aid the typhoon victims. The Department of Agriculture was also ordered by Duterte to distribute seeds and boats to the farmers and fisherfolk, respectively, who were affected by the disaster.

“Pati po lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na may mga Quick Response Fund katulad po ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), ng DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), magbigay kaagad ng livelihood sa mga beneficiaries doon,” he said.

Go then reassured that the President and the rest of the government are working nonstop to address the needs of the victims. He said the National Housing Authority will also provide P100 million worth of housing assistance to each province affected.

“Sinabi ni Pangulo, kung kakailanganing hindi siya magpa-Pasko, hindi kami magpa-Pasko. Basta importante rito mga kababayan natin, makatulong kaagad, makabalik sila kahit papano sa kanilang pamumuhay, na makabalik sila sa bahay nila na wala pong gutom. Nakatutok po kami rito. Hindi naman po kailangan mag-celebrate ng Pasko dahil ako magdasal lang muna tayo. Magdasal na lang tayo sa ating pamamahay [...] Unahin ko muna 'yung pagseserbisyo sa aking kapwa Pilipino gaya ng ginagawa ko noon- 24/7 po akong handang tumugon at tumulong sa mga pangangailangan po ng ating mga kababayan,” Go said. (PCOO, Mindanao Examiner)