City gives 7.8M aid to dry spell hit areas

The City Government will donate 7.8M to 22 areas severely hit by the dry spell.

In yesterday’s regular session, the city passed a resolution granting financial aid to 18 municipalities, two provinces and two cities under the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means of the City Council chaired by Danilo Dayanghirang.

In specifics, the city will provide aid to cities of Zamboanga (P500,000) and Kidapawan (P500,000).

It will also provide for the municipalities of Sultan Kudarat (P400,000) and Camarines Sur (P1M).

Aditionally, the City will also give aid to the municipalities of San Isidro, Davao Oriental (P300,000); Alabel, Sarangani (P300,000); Matalam, Cotabato (P300,000); Alamada, Cotabato (P300,000); Aleosan, North Cotabato (P300,000); Magpet, Cotabato (P300,000); Pigcawayan, Cotabato (P300,000); Mlang, Cotabato (P300,000); Pikit, Cotabato (P300,000); Tulunan, Cotabato (P300,000); Arakan, Cotabato (P300,000); Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat (P300,000); Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat (P300,000); Paracelis, Mountain Province (P300,000); Dupax del Norte (P300,000); Santa Barbara, Iloilo (P300,000); Janiuay, Iloilo (P300,000); and Maasin, Iloilo (P300,000).

“Some municipalities, cities, and provinces were greatly affected by the dry spell. This is the second wave of the financial assistance the City Government will extend,” City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Alfredo Baluran told reporters on the sidelines of the session.

Last week, the Council also approved financial aid amounting to P3.4 M to various areas declared as under the state of calamity due to dry spell.

“This assistance will be coursed through the Philippine National Red Cross. They will be the one to disburse the amount to the recipient with close supervision of the Commission on Audit,” Baluran said.

With the election ban, the aid will be given in a form of check under the name of the Philippine National Red Cross.

“Here in the city, we have very minimal effects and we experienced that almost every day, parts of the City experience light to moderate rains,” Baluran said. (Julianne A. Suarez)