Returnees, claimants get help from Capitol

The Cebu provincial government distributed financial assistance to two rebel returnees from Danao City, and the relatives/families of the victims of calamities and disasters that include the MV Princess of the Stars sinking and the C-130 plane crash.

“Sa kanunay, the Cebu provincial government will stand by its word. In times of peace, joy, pain and challenges, we are here to stand beside you…to be strong for you if needed,” Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.

“Nasayod ko nga dili gyod kini (financial assistance) makahulip sa dakong haw-ang nga anaa karon sa tagsa-tagsa ninyo ka mga kasingkasing,” the governor added.

“Apan bisan man lang niining among gamay nga pagpaabot sa among simpatiya, nanghinaot mi nga bisan sa labing mangitngit nga panahon, dili angay nga kawad-a’g paglaom kay aduna gihapoy mga tawo nga naglantaw og andam sa panahon nga kamo nanginahanglan og tabang,” she said.

Rebel returnees Marcial Prieto and Ruel Tañana received P30,000 from Capitol.

Prieto and Tañana were two of the four former mass supporters of the New People’s Army who surrendered and turned over their firearms to the Central Command last month.

On the other hand, 24 claimants who lost their loved ones in the Stars sinking were given P10,000 each.

Nine beneficiaries of the victims of the C-130 crash also received P10,000.

Further, the local government of Catmon received P100,000 for relief and rehabilitation purposes of families affected by landslides.

Roads, rice fields and 50 houses were damaged when landslides hit sitio Guintigian, barangay Cabungaan and barangay Panalipan in Catmon town last month.

Daanbantayan, on the other hand, which was severely hit by typhoon Frank, received financial assistance worth P1 million.

Meanwhile, the field office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 and the City Social Welfare Office of Lapu-Lapu jointly dispatched social workers to the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base recently to help the families of crew members of the ill-fated C-130 cargo plane.

The social workers had conducted initial assessment, interview and defusing activities to the seven wives of the crew yesterday as well as to some of their other dependents.

Psychologists from the Philippine Air Force headquarters in Villamor Air Base had also conducted debriefing sessions to prepare the families for whatever outcome the search operations in Davao may bring.

The social welfare office also pledged to give financial assistance to the families.

The Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing is usually administered by the DSWD to victims of tragedy as well as survivors. It is a psychosocial intervention to people who had experienced traumatic incidents. — Joy Kareen T. Saliente/MEEV