A Cabinet official said there is no
holiday break in the government’s relief operations to help the victims of
typhoon Nina which hit the country on Christmas Day.
“So, ngayon ko lang natanto na sa
Department of Social Welfare and Development wala palang bakasyon. Kahit
holidays nagtratrabaho ang ating mga kagawad, yung ating Disaster Response
and Management Bureau, ang mga field offices natin sa Regions 5, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA,
at NCR, at region 8 dahil nga sa pagdating ng Nina,” said Secretary Judy
Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development at a press
briefing in Malacanan on Thursday, December 29, 2016.
Secretary Taguiwalo said the
government continues with its response and relief efforts, in ensuring that
the pre-positioned goods reach the affected municipalities and citizens.
The Disaster Response and Management
Bureau reported the total figures of those affected by Nina are 813
barangays, 206,812 families, and 923, 485 persons.
The Bicol region was the hardest hit
as reported by Taguiwalo since Typhoon Nina made several landfalls in the
area. Albay has the most number of affected people with 240 barangays and
100,000 families.
The Secretary said assistance in
relief goods handed out to the victims of the typhoon amounted to a total of
P47,298,500. The bulk of assistance came from DSWD while some came from the
local government units.
Secretary Taguiwalo gave an update on
the P1 billion President Rodrigo Roa Duterte earmarked for the DSWD.
“Iyong sa reseta ni President Duterte
na yung isang bilyon na idina-download niya sa ating departamento ay inaayos
pa ho natin yung guidlelines. Nililinaw lang ho natin na hindi ho pera ang
ibibigay ng department,” she said.
She clarified that a doctor’s
prescription should be submitted to the department. Upon validation, instead
of money, a guarantee letter for the different drugstores would be given.
Secretary Taguiwalo said although her
department has not yet received the one billion, they have already started
the free medicines program.
Meanwhile, at the same Press
briefing, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said majority of the Filipino
people look forward to the coming year with hope and optimism.
“I have good news. 95% of Pinoys
greet New Year with hope. The SWS survey taken from December 3 to 6 found 95%
of adult Filipinos has said they are entering 2017 with hope rather than fear
which is up from 92% last year,” said Abella.
The survey was based on face-to face
interviews with about 1,500 respondents, 18 years old and above, and the
survey said that this attitude of hope is widespread in all areas. 97 % in
Luzon; 95% in the National Capital Region and 95% in Mindanao; and 92% in the
Visayas.
Another good news Abella mentioned is
regarding the bonus of Department of Education Personnel. He said that
personnel in 9 regions of the Department began receiving their performance
based bonus for the year 2015. The bonus for the fiscal year 2015 will be
given to school based personnel in Regions 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 11, 12, Caraga, CAR
and NCR before 2016 ends.###PND
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