(PRO-8 FACEBOOK)
As committed by Pres. Marcos
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of P321 million in financial assistance to provinces and cities affected by Tropical Storm Basyang (international name: Penha), with several provinces in Eastern Visayas included among the beneficiaries.
The funding will be distributed to 35 provinces and eight cities nationwide that suffered from heavy rains, flooding, and landslides triggered by Basyang and an accompanying shear line earlier this month.
In Eastern Visayas, the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar are set to receive allocations from the assistance package.
The directive was issued to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who said the funds would be released immediately in compliance with the President’s order.
Last week, Marcos met with governors of severely affected provinces, including Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, and Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan. During the meeting, the President assured them of national government support in response to the devastation caused by Basyang.
In a memorandum, Marcos cited widespread displacement, reported casualties, and significant damage to infrastructure as basis for the financial aid.
According to the Office of Civil Defense, at least 12 people died and 36 were injured during the first week of the storm’s impact.
Nationwide, 182,352 families — or 645,612 individuals — were affected across Western Visayas, Negros Island, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga Region.
Recto said recipient local government units are required to submit utilization reports detailing how the funds are spent. “The assistance will allow these communities to recover as expeditiously as possible from the recent weather events. It forms part of the President’s initiatives to support LGUs and their constituents,” he said.
Other provinces identified to receive aid include Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Negros Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Aklan, Cebu, Catanduanes, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Sorsogon, Misamis Occidental, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Antique, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Camarines Norte, Bukidnon, Siquijor, Zamboanga del Norte, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro.
The cities of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Butuan, Cebu, Zamboanga, Iloilo, and Mandaue are also included in the assistance package.
Basyang battered parts of the Visayas and Mindanao with intense rainfall, compounded by a shear line that triggered floods and landslides and caused extensive agricultural and infrastructure damage, particularly in storm-prone areas such as Eastern Visayas.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
