Government provides over P189-million worth of
assistance to victims of Zamboanga City crisis
The Aquino government has extended over P189
million worth of assistance to the families affected by the armed conflict that
occurred in Zamboanga City recently involving forces reportedly loyal to Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that government
will continue to address the needs of the families affected by the armed
conflict last September.
"You may be interested to know that the
total assistance that has been given by way of food assistance, by way of
non-food items as well as financial assistance for transportation, medical
costs or expenses, for burial, etc., as well as the cash-for-work programs that
have been initiated in several barangays in Zamboanga City now come up to
P189,520,762," Valte said.
The Department of Social Work and Development
(DSWD) continues to provide psychosocial and critical incident stress
debriefing (CISD) to the victims of the Zamboanga standoff, Valte said.
"Siyempre, apart from the assistance for
infrastructure, kasama sa mandato ng DSWD ang pagbibigay ng psychological assistance
to the victims," she said.
To address the needs of women and children,
Valte said the DSWD had set up special Day Care Centers and Child and
Women-Friendly Spaces in the evacuation centers.
Valte said the children were provided with
supplemental food in the evacuation centers. The DSWD also launched a program
called Supervised Neighborhood Play to help ease the anxiety of the children.
"Kasama na siyempre diyan po iyon feeding
for the breastfeeding mothers that have also been affected, as well as
pre-natal care for pregnant women and health care for newly-delivered
women," she said.
"At nakikitulong na rin po ang TESDA
(Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) when it comes to the
cash-for-work program for the victims and evacuees," she said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways
started conducting clearing operations at areas affected by the 25-day fighting
between the government and the said MNLF faction.
"One of the challenges, again, of national
government in Zamboanga City, now that unti-unti na pong bumabalik ang mga
pamilya doon sa kanilang mga bahay kung meron pa silang babalikan ay ang
clearing operations for the debris... isa ito sa mga immediate needs na
pinupunan naman po ng DPWH," she said.
The Aquino government is readying the P3.9
billion funds to speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the
affected communities.
The government has already drafted a
rehabilitation plan which includes the relocation, housing, shelter,
livelihood, and other assistance for the affected families. PND (js)
Palace: Government has P2.3 billion Quick
Response fund for Bohol Rehabilitation
Malacanang made another assurance on Saturday
that the Aquino government has enough resources to fund relief and
reconstruction efforts in Bohol.
“We would like to assure ang mga kababayan natin
sa Bohol na meron tayong namo-mobilize na mga pondo para mas makatulong sa
pagbangon ulit ng Bohol,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said
in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“So huwag tayong mag-alala, meron naman tayong
sapat na pondo para doon sa pagtulong sa kanila, sa mga komunidad na tinamaan
ng kalamidad sa Bohol.”
Valte reported that according to the Department
of Budget and Management (DBM), the government has approximately P2.3 billion
in Quick Response fund under the different implementing agencies.
Quick Response Funds are standby allocations
that are part of the budget that enables the government to provide quick
assistance to areas struck by disasters.
The P2.3 billion Quick Response Fund allocation
is as follows: Office of Civil Defense, P554 million; Department of National
Defense, P326 million; Department of Education P455 million; Department of
Agriculture, P196 million; and Department of Social Welfare and Development,
P200 million.
The Quick Response Fund of the Department of
Public Works and Highways, including its continuing appropriations is P600
million, according to Valte.
The DPWH has a huge task of repairing damaged
bridges, roads and others infrastructures in Bohol following the October 15
earthquake that hit the province. PND (as)
