SoKor gov’t donates P12.9 M for quake victims

SEOUL – The government of South Korea has donated $300,000 (P12.9 million) to the Philippine government to help rehabilitate the provinces of Bohol and Cebu that were struck by a powerful earthquake last Oct. 15, President Aquino disclosed here late Thursday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario gave the amount to Aquino, who concluded his two-day state visit here yesterday, when members of the Philippine media interviewed him at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

This is apart from the $200,000 (P8.6 million) the Koreans gave for the rehabilitation of Zamboanga, where security forces fought it out for three weeks with members of the Moro National Liberation Front faction loyal to its founding chairman Nur Misuari.

The US embassy, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has allocated $50,000 (P2.1 million) to earthquake affected communities of Bohol.

The relief will be coordinated through the USAID’s implementing partner, Plan International.

The embassy said yesterday 6,000 units of hygiene kits would be sent to earthquake victims in Bohol through USAID’s Visayas Health Project.

Through the World Food Program, USAID has also been providing logistical assistance to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in some of the affected areas.

Two US military water purification units have been transported to Tagbilaran in Bohol and will be operated by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) engineers to produce fresh drinking water for those affected by the earthquake.

“We are very concerned about the tragic loss of life and suffering caused by the Bohol earthquake. The assistance USAID can offer will be a good first step in mitigating that suffering,” Charge d’Affairs Brian Goldbeck said.

The Davao City government is set to extend at least P3 million as cash assistance to the victims of the killer quake in Cebu and Bohol.

The Davao City Council yesterday held a special session to approve the release of P3-million cash assistance.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said at least P1 million of the amount would be given to the town of Maribojoc, one of the hardest hit in the quake that struck Bohol.

Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. was Duterte’s chief of staff for several terms in the past.

Duterte said the remaining amount would be divided among the 18 affected towns in Bohol and Cebu.

The cities of Ormoc and Baybay in Leyte would donate P2.1 million to quake hit areas, especially in Bohol.

Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said that definitely, the LGU would donate at least P500,000 to Bohol. They are also planning to give at least P100,000 each to the Bohol towns of Loon, Loboc, Maribojoc.

On the other hand, Ormoc City would be donating some P1.6 million to Bohol and Cebu, said Ben Matiga of the disaster risk reduction management office.

Matiga said that P500,000 would be given to Bohol, another P500,000 to Cebu and P300,000 each for the cities of Tagbilaran and Cebu. – With Edith Regalado, Lalaine Jimenea