The city government has allotted P5 million as financial aid to local government units in the Visayas and Mindanao that were badly hit by Typhoon Odette.
During its special session on Dec. 24, 2021, the city council approved the allocation of the amount from the city’s quick response fund.
City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente told members of the council the Local Finance Committee has certified the availability of funds for the financial assistance.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Antonette Anaban said 44 municipalities were chosen as beneficiaries of the assistance, with each allotted P100,000 except for six towns that will receive P200,000 each.
She said based on the list submitted by the Office of the Civil Defense, 300 municipalities were affected by Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao, but since the allocation is limited, they have decided to give to the towns with lower income classifications and those with a lot of affected families.
“We identified 44 municipalities under the fourth to sixth class and those that recorded more than 4,000 affected families, including the areas with damaged houses,” Anaban said.
Anaban added the amount will be given directly to the affected LGUs.
Asked on how the LFC came up with the amount to be given, Clemente said the allocation was based on the available QRF balance.
“Considering our expenses, this (P5M) is the amount we can produce for assistance,” she told the council.
The amount left under the city’s QRF, an amount used for LGUs’ disaster response, was pegged at P8M after the allocation of P5M to Typhoon Odette-affected LGUs.
City Accountant Antonio Tabin said the P8M QRF balance might be lesser if based on actual collection as the city is expecting an under collection.
He added the financial assistance will be sent through the banks to the recipient LGUs.
“We will ask the city treasurer to ask the bank account of their counterpart in the affected LGUs so the funds can just be sent through bank transfer.”
Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan meanwhile asked citizens who want to extend help to affected areas through the city government to course their donations through the City Social Welfare and Development Office, similar to what the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio did.
Olowan said donations coursed through the CSWDO will be pooled and delivered to the affected municipalities altogether. – Jane B. Cadalig
April 25, 2024
