Capitol readies P3.4M response fund

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Government has prepared P3.4 million quick response fund to help in the relief operations for the victims of the sea tragedy in Lawis Ledge, at the entrance to the Cebu south harbor.

Provincial budget officer Danny Rodas said that the money is now ready for release. Rodas said the money can be released anytime upon Governor Hilario Davide III’s order because it has been covered by a previous resolution from the provincial board.

Rodas said the governor has the option whether or not to use up the entire amount for the ongoing relief operations. The Provincial Board has appropriated P108, 770,000 for the disaster preparedness his year. Thirty percent of the amount will be utilized for relief operations, which include procurements of goods and materials of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The quick response fund will also be used for pre-disaster preparedness, disaster mitigation and post disaster preparedness operations and activities of PDRRMC and PSWDO.

The PSWDO had already conducted relief operations in the past two days in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City and in the Municipality of Cordova.

The relief goods cost almost half a million pesos, said PSWDO head Eva Encabo.

According to Encabo, they distributed 30 sacks of rice, six cartons of sardines, six cartons of corned beef, six cartons of beef loaf, and 11 cartons of noodles.

At least 60 fishermen in Labogon and 1,000 out of 1,750 registered fishermen in Cordova each received 5 kilos of rice, six assorted canned goods, and 10 packs of noodles, said Encabo.— (FREEMAN)