Negros Occ, Panay typhoon victims get P11M worth of aid

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Victims of typhoon Yolanda in Negros Occidental and Panay Island have received P11.4-million worth of aid from the DSWD and various local government units (LGUs), according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) regional office in Western Visayas.

OCD-6 regional director Rosario Cabrera, in her report to OCD administrator Eduardo del Rosario, said the assistance from DSWD and various LGUs given to Negros Occidental and Panay Island amounted to P11,424,145.

Of  this money, Negros Occidental province got P4 million aid from DSWD and P130,500 from the LGUs, she said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division stepped up its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response operations, in close coordination with LGUs, government agencies and non-government organizations to synchronize plans and actions for the quick recovery of the region from the devastation of  Yolanda.

Major Gen. Aurelio Baladad, 3rd ID commander, said the disaster response task unit, deployed in Panay and Negros Occidental, even before Yolanda hit the area, has been continuously engaged in clearing road access, delivery of  relief items and providing security in the hinterland barangays, that were heavily devastated by the typhoon.

As of  Friday, the OCD-6 reported that damage to infrastructure and agriculture rose to P856, 607,710, with 2,442,906 individuals affected. It further recorded a total of 122 deaths, which is lower than the 190 of the Police Regional Office 6, while 175 were injured, with 10 still missing.

An advanced team of the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team, led by Major Andrew Starkey, on board a C-17 mammoth cargo plane, arrived Thursday at the Iloilo airport, and brought in 300 tons medicines and water purification equipment, which are critical in areas without potable water, the 3rd ID said in a press statement.  (FREEMAN)