Speaker aids quake-hit families in Davao de Oro

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez have distributed cash aid to 1,653 families displaced by earthquakes in Davao de Oro last week.

The distribution of aid was made in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Secretary Rex Gatchalian

A magnitude 6 quake struck the province on March 22, which was followed by strong aftershocks, causing damage to properties of citizens.

The Romualdez couple helped facilitate the release of cash to the victims under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program.

“Natural calamities such as earthquakes are unforeseen, and the injuries and damage it causes are of no fault of the victims. So it is only just to allocate and direct the government’s ayuda program to victims of the Davao de Oro earthquakes,” the Speaker said.

“We know that the amount of assistance does not really cover the damage done by the recent calamity. But we hope it alleviates our citizens’ plight in this time of need. The government is doing everything in its power to restore normalcy to Davao de Oro,” Rep. Romualdez for her part said.

The DSWD, representatives from the Speaker’s office and local government officials conducted AICS payouts to people in the municipalities of Compostela, New Bataan and Maragusan.

In Compostela, 319 beneficiaries received P3,000 cash aid each.

House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada, accompanied by Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maricar Zamora, represented the Romualdez couple in the financial aid distribution.

In his message delivered by Gabonada, Romualdez said when his province of Leyte fell victim to a strong typhoon in 2013, Davao de Oro was one of the provinces to send aid.

“It is just proper that Leyte also responds to the call for help in the Mindanaoan province,” he said.

In New Bataan, cash assistance of P5,000 each was given to 503 beneficiaries from Barangay Andap heavily affected by the earthquake.

Also present during the payout was New Bataan Mayor Gerald Balbin, Vice Mayor Larry Pagalan and city councilors.

Pagalan thanked Romualdez, Tingog and DSWD for the assistance extended to them.

The tribe leaders of Mandaya and Mansaka also gave a token of appreciation to the Romualdez couple for helping the indigenous people’s community.

The team also facilitated the distribution of AICS amounting to P3,000 to 285 beneficiaries from the remote Barangay Tandik of Maragusan, Davao de Oro.

In Barangay Paloc, Maragusan, Davao de Oro, 465 families whose houses were damaged received P3,000 each while 81 families got P5,000 each after their houses were destroyed by the quake.

Present during the giving of aid were Vice Mayor Cesar Colina Sr., barangay captains of Tandig and Paloc, Sangguniang board members Osbert Yanog and Joner Gran.