Duterte visits Marawi evacuees in Iligan City

 Entertainment
Jun 242017
 

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte interacts with evacuees from Marawi City during his visit Tuesday (June 20, 2017) at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries where 229 displaced families have taken shelter. (MNS photo)

ILIGAN CITY, June 21 – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Iligan City on Tuesday, June 20, to personally check the condition of evacuees currently being housed at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buru-un here.

In his speech, Duterte vowed to give assistance to families affected by the Marawi siege from their immediate needs up to rehabilitation and recovery phase.

“Most important thing is that matulungan ko kayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, tutulungan ko kayo, hindi ko kayo pababayaan, hanggang relocation,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the government will rehabilitate Marawi and will make it beautiful and livable again.

“But this I will promise you, I will set aside initially PHP20 billion para maumpisahan, ‘yung mga mahirap ang unahin ko,” he said.

The President also apologized to the Maranao people who have been affected by the attack of the Maute terror group.

“I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin,” he said.

“Sana sa madaling panahon, you will find a new heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako for declaring martial law. Wala akong choice eh sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them out. But I am very sorry,” he added.

He provided financial assistance to the evacuees. Each family also received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Meanwhile, the President reiterated his promise to establish federalism as an effort to solve conflict and achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

During his visit, the President was accompanied by his Cabinet officials.

Among them were Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Concerns Abdullah Mamao, and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Chief Ricardo Jalad. (PND)

 

DSWD to wrap up probe on rotten relief goods by April

 News
Mar 232014
 
DSWD to wrap up probe on rotten relief goods by April

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is expected to shed light by next month on how some relief goods ended up in a dump site or were spoiled when distributed to local government officials. “Next week, we will conclude the proper investigation and discuss it with [the team] for some adjustments. By April 5, we will file our recommendation to DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government),” Social Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Sunday. DSWD’s recommendations will include the the investigation’s findings on who should be held accountable for the spoilage of relief goods, and whether administrative cases should be filed. Soliman clarified that some relief goods were indeed disposed of in a dumpsite in Palo, Leyte since these were “not seen fit for human consumption.” She noted that only a sack of assorted biscuits, 10 cups of instant noodles, and a half sack of rice were buried in the dump site despite media reports that truckloads of spoiled goods had been disposed of there. She said some of the donated food got wet, causing them to spoil. The Social Welfare secretary explained that the rotten relief goods that were given to another village in Palo town did not come from DSWD but from various agencies. The relief goods were almost distributed to Yolanda survivors but were intercepted by the chairman of Barangay Gacao, who saw maggots crawling on some of the packages. Soliman said that the investigation will also look into Read More …

NDRRMC: Almost P80M aid given to families affected by TD Agaton, LPA

 News
Jan 272014
 
NDRRMC: Almost P80M aid given to families affected by TD Agaton, LPA

Nearly P80 million in assistance has been given to families in Visayas and Mindanao who were affected earlier this month by a low-pressure area that intensified into Tropical Depression Agaton (Lingling). The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said some P79,803,510.81 was extended by government agencies and non-government organizations. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said a breakdown of the amount included: P40,154,571.21 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development P35,486,090.55 from local government units P2,059,685 from non-government and government organizations The NDRRMC indicated the assistance was given to residents of Regions 5, 10, 11, 12 and Caraga. As of Tuesday morning, the death toll from Agaton remained at 64, with 85 injured and 10 still missing. The NDRRMC said 244,344 families or 148,621 people were affected in 1,002 villages in 118 towns in 16 provinces. Of these, 21,062 families or 102,201 people were displaced and are staying in 228 evacuation centers. Damage was estimated at P509,905,686.72, including P256,413,750 in infrastructure and P253,491,936.72 in agriculture. —KG, GMA News

Soliman dismisses reports food donation not reaching survivors

 Entertainment
Dec 142013
 
Soliman dismisses reports food donation not reaching survivors

U.S. and Philippine military personnel prepare boxes containing tent material from U.S. relief organization USAID to be deployed by airlift to the victims of super typhoon Haiyan, at a Manila airport November 13, 2013. Philippine officials have been overwhelmed by Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons on record, which tore through the central Philippines on Friday and flattened Tacloban, coastal capital of Leyte province where officials had feared 10,000 people died, many drowning in a tsunami-like wall of seawater. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman on Wednesday dismissed new reports from the foreign media that food donations and other essential relief supplies are not reaching “Yolanda” victims in the Visayas Region. During Wednesday’s briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, she said helicopters from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and foreign military contingents have ensured that food and other essentials have reached the most far-flung barangays in the affected regions. “Helicopter deliveries are even done with the PAF and other foreign assets in some hard-to-reach barangays. In fact, the helicopter that crashed in La Paz, Leyte last December 6 was carrying two DSWD volunteers who were doing relief work. Both sustained various injuries but are now being given medical attention,” Soliman stressed. The DSWD chief added that regular spot checking and monitoring of relief works in affected areas are being conducted to ensure goods are delivered directly to the affected individuals. Read More …

2,800 typhoon-hit families to have new homes before Xmas

 Entertainment
Dec 122013
 
2,800 typhoon-hit families to have new homes before Xmas

A professional diver dressed as Santa Claus interacts with children while swimming inside a giant aquarium as part of Christmas celebrations at the Manila Ocean Park November 28, 2013. The Philippines, a mainly Roman Catholic country in Southeast Asia, prepares for Christmas early – shopping malls start playing Christmas carols in September and lanterns and fireworks are put up in early December. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) — Government is stepping up efforts to build homes for some 2,800 families affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” before Christmas. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday said the construction of 119 bunkhouse units in devastated areas in Eastern Visayas is being fast-tracked for completion on or before December 22. The bunkhouses will serve as temporary shelter for some 2,856 families displaced by the massive typhoon, which struck central Philippines last November 8. The DPWH said it is hoping that more bunkhouses will be completed in time for New Year. While site development and construction activities in 29 different sites are being hampered by sporadic heavy rains, the DPWH assured that private contractors have committed to work double time during good weather to facilitate the completion of the bunkhouses. Upon completion, the DPWH will turn over the bunkhouses to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to beneficiaries. (MNS)

Roxas: Charges to be filed over delayed cleanup of Iloilo oil spill

 News
Dec 042013
 
Roxas: Charges to be filed over delayed cleanup of Iloilo oil spill

Charges await Napocor officials in charge of removing the power barge that has been leaking oil off Iloilo province after it was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda early last month, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said Wednesday. “There will be cases [of] negligence, incompetence, and for bad practice that will be filed,” Roxas said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” He, however, added that the current focus is on how to remove the barge. Authorities are racing against time to remove the damaged barge that caused the oil spill in Estancia town following reports that the spilled fuel has reached areas two kilometers away from the coastline. Roxas stopped by Estancia to inspect the damage caused by the oil spill during his short visit to Iloilo with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. The Cabinet officials visited Iloilo to discuss rehabilitation efforts for typhoon-stricken areas with local officials. At least 200,000 liters of bunker fuel spilled on the coast of Estancia after Power Barge 103 slammed into the rocky shoreline of  Barangay Botongan when the super typhoon struck on Nov. 8. Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Sr. has ordered the forced evacuation of nearly 1,800 families  in the area after the Department of Health reported that air pollution from toxic fumes from the oil spill was “off the charts,” with benzene levels 32 times higher than normal. The barge’s crewmembers have tried containing the spill by deploying 100-meter Read More …

Maynilad employees help in repacking relief goods

 Economy
Nov 192013
 
Maynilad employees help in repacking relief goods

MANILA, Philippines – West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) recently sent 63 employee-volunteers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Resource Operations Center, Pasay, to help load packed relief goods to delivery trucks that will transport the items to relief centers set up for Typhoon Yolanda evacuees. The employees spent the evening carrying packed relief goods for about 600 families, in response to the call for manpower assistance of DSWD. “We have always encouraged volunteerism among our employees.  During this very trying time, we’re glad to help our typhoon-stricken countrymen in whatever way we can,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ricky P. Vargas. Besides the assistance of its employee-volunteers, Maynilad has likewise been donating to the relief effort for typhoon-stricken areas through the provision of potable water, food, and other needed items. Maynilad is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area.

Aquino assures enough funds to help Yolanda victims

 Entertainment
Nov 142013
 
Aquino assures enough funds to help Yolanda victims

Aerial shot of the province of which was heavily damaged by super typhoon Yolanda (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday evening reassured the public that government has enough funds to help those affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). The President said the funds include some P16 billion in savings, P6 billion from the President’s Social Fund, and P1 billion from the calamity and contingency funds. “And yung sa reconstruction phase naman (As for the reconstruction phase), most of that would occur next year wherein the new budget hopefully will have been approved and there will be new funding for the rehabilitation,” he said after getting a briefing on the situation at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. On the other hand, the President said the government can draw from the Quick Response Funds of agencies such as the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). He noted that the bulk of the DPWH’s work for now is clearing roads. “At isama ko na rin pala. Sinasabi ng DOST, DENR, na parang itong event na ‘Yolanda’ ay tapos na,” he added. Meanwhile the President reiterated that the government’s priority now is to restore power and communications to affected areas. He said the DPWH will clear roads to facilitate relief efforts, while the DSWD and agencies like the National Food Authority go full blast in repacking operations. For their part, the military’s C-130 planes and Read More …

DSWD in dire need of volunteers in Cebu to repack relief goods

 News
Nov 102013
 
DSWD in dire need of volunteers in Cebu to repack relief goods

Typhoon Yolanda relief ops in Pasay. Volunteers are repacking relief goods at the DSWD ware house in Pasay City on Saturday, November 9, for the victims of typhoon Yolanda. DANNY PATA Danny Pata As Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras in a press conference on Sunday announced to gathered media that routes by land into Tacloban City have opened up, he also called on the public, especially those in Cebu to volunteer with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in repacking relief goods for those in Tacloban and other hard hit places. “Cebu has been targeted as a logistics center, so DSWD is appealing for repacking volunteers in Cebu,” Almendras said, noting that the DSWD in Cebu is in dire need of volunteers to help repack goods. “We have to step it up, palakasin pa ang repacking sa Cebu, kasi it is our closest logistics center we have for repacking,” he said. DSWD aims to give families food supplies enough to last at least five days, Almendras added. – Patricia Denise Chiu / KDM, GMA News 

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