BUGALLON, Pangasinan – Now, assistance is starting to pour into storm-battered Pangasinan after President Arroyo visited the province again yesterday, her second in 12 days.
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said the provincial government received P5 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for the repair of hospitals and schools plus two ambulances, P25 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for the rehabilitation of the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen town, and P500,000 from PhilHealth also for the rehabilitation of damaged government structures.
Espino said the Department of Health promised to give P11 million for the repair of nine hospitals under the provincial government’s supervision, and another P40 million for the repair of the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital in Tayug town, plus P500,000 worth of medicines.
The provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales, the hardest-hit by storm “Cosme,” started to receive yesterday construction materials, mostly galvanized iron sheets, worth P50 million for the rehabilitation of damaged school buildings, government structures and the houses of poor families.
The President said the construction materials will be delivered to the three provinces every week in the next 10 weeks.
Mrs. Arroyo was accompanied by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council; Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. – With Cesar Ramirez