Nona-hit provinces get P56 M in financial aid

MANILA, Philippines - Provinces from Northern Luzon to Central Visayas that were hit hard by Typhoon Nona will receive about P56.2 million in financial assistance from the national government, a Palace official said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the funds have been distributed to typhoon-devastated provinces in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Bicol and Central Visayas.

The provinces of Albay and Sorsogon were the most affected in the Bicol region as well as Northern Samar and Romblon in Central Visayas.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has released the funds to the most affected areas, Coloma said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepared P674 million in standby funds, P111.5 million worth of food and non-food items, and more than 204,000 food packs for the typhoon victims.

The relief goods are stored at the DSWD’s regional offices in Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and in Caraga region as well as in its national operations center in Manila.

Coloma said the financial assistance would include those who were affected by Typhoon Onyok.

President Aquino has issued Proclamation 1186 declaring a state of calamity to hasten the distribution of relief goods and impose a price freeze in affected areas.

Meanwhile, Nona destroyed at least P2 billion worth of agricultural crops in Central Luzon’s seven provinces, disaster officials reported yesterday.

The Office of Civil Defense said the damage was recorded in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

At least 182,766 families or 869,059 individuals in 472 villages in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac were affected by floodwaters. – With Ric Sapnu