Duterte commits P10B more for Odette-hit areas

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to raise additional P10-billion funds for the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the typhoon-affected areas, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Duterte made the commitment during his visit to Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Monday, where he met with the victims of Typhoon Odette and met with government officials to assess the extent of the damage from the storm.

Earlier, Duterte assured that his administration will provide P2 billion worth of assistance to all provinces affected by the typhoon. He would also look for another P2 billion to augment his initial commitment.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will continuously provide family food packs and water and shelter assistance for families with damaged houses, Nograles said in a statement.

He added that the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the National Housing Authority will assist those whose homes were partially and totally damaged.

The Department of Trade and Industry, on one hand, promised to look into and monitor reports of price hikes, including generators, which are reportedly being sold way above their usual prices.

Nograles said the Department of Agriculture will provide agricultural assistance for affected farmers and fisherfolk, and the Department of Public Works and Highways will clear uprooted trees along the roads and highways and to turn over these logs to the local government units for use as housing construction materials, and provide the needed support for river dredging as soon as funds are available.

The Palace executive said the Department of Energy is working double time to restore power supply in affected areas.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology will also double its efforts to restore telecommunication networks and internet connectivity in affected regions, he added.

Nograles said Duterte instructed concerned agencies to immediately complete the construction of the Kabankalan airstrip.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)