The Makati City government has distributed P19 million in financial aid to 39 local government units affected by the recent typhoon and earthquake.
Mayor Abigail Binay led the distribution of the financial assistance to the city’s sister localities directly hit by Typhoon Paeng and the Abra earthquake last year.
“We are aware of the devastation caused by these disasters, and through this financial assistance, we want to help communities rebuild and bring back a sense of normalcy to their lives,” Binay said.
She said the city council approved the release of the P19 million as financial assistance to Makati’s 39 sister LGUs last December 1, 2022.
The mayor also said the financial assistance, sourced from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, was based on the recommendation of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Binay said the amount allocated per sister LGU, ranging from P250,000 to P1 million, was based on the severity of damage to infrastructure, size of population, the number of households affected, and the extent of damage as determined by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“We hope that this assistance will help bring some relief and comfort to our sister LGUs, and I urge everyone to continue to work together and help our fellow Filipinos in this difficult time,” she said.
Among the 39 localities that received the financial assistance were Enrile and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan; Gasan in Marinduque; Legazpi City in Albay; Labo in Camarines Norte; Libmanan in Camarines Sur; Bato and Virac in Catanduanes; Libacao, Nabas, and New Washington in Aklan; Bugasong, Hamtic, Libertad, San Jose de Buenavista, and Tobias Fornier in Antique; Cuartero, Dao, Dumarao, and Sigma in Capiz; Batad, Carles, Dumangas, Estancia, Iloilo City, Pototan, and San Dionisio in Iloilo; Pulupandan in Negros Occidental; Zamboanga City in Zamboanga Del Sur; Datu Abdullah Sangki, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Pagalungan, and Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao.
Meanwhile, Makati also handed out financial aid to localities affected by the Abra earthquake, namely, Caoayan in Ilocos Sur; and Bangued, Bucay, Dolores, Pilar, and Tayum in Abra.
Under the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the LDRRMC may transfer funds to support other local government units upon recommendation of the LDRMM.
The quick response fund is used to provide relief and recovery programs that help normalize living conditions for people living in communities affected by emergencies and disasters.
Last July, a magnitude 7 quake shook the province of Abra, destroying houses, health centers, and other infrastructures in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions. Meanwhile, Typhoon Paeng hit the country last October, affecting some 4.8 million people in Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Regions.
At present, Makati has 558 sister LGUs nationwide.