₱4.85 Billion in Financial Assistance Released by DBM

Restoration and relief efforts continue for the provinces and areas that were ravaged by Typhoon Odette over the previous week. In line with this, the Department of Budget and Management released ₱4.85 billion on Wednesday to be allocated as financial assistance for survivors of the recent calamity. The funds are expected to be distributed to the local government units (LGUs) of the following:

• Region IV-B – ₱198.21 million
• Region VI – ₱1.63 billion
• Region VII – ₱1.04 billion
• Region VIII – ₱964.10 million
• Region X – ₱156.02 million
• Region XIII – ₱864.08 million

“Affected persons and families are expected to receive assistance equivalent to ₱1,000 per individual and a maximum of ₱5,000 per household,” explained the DBM. The release of the assistance came after President Rodrigo Duterte assured on Monday that each family affected by Typhoon Odette would receive ₱5,000. Means of distributing the assistance have been left up to the discretion of the LGUs, but it will still be monitored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The individual allocations of the respective cities and municipalities were computed based on the number of affected individuals/households, as recently reported by the DSWD,” said the DBM. “Upon receipt of the funds, the recipient LGUs are expected to fully disburse their allotment until December 31, 2022. Otherwise, all unutilized funds after end-December next year will be reverted to the National Treasury by the concerned LGU,” it added.

Aside from monetary assistance, the Department of Information and Communications Technology has also assured that mobile service restoration of major telcos Globe Telecom, Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. are now over 70% across typhoon-stricken areas.

“Globe reported that 95% [of] cell sites are operational in Palawan, 60% [are] operational in Visayas, and 64%… in Mindanao. Overall restoration is [at] 73%,” affirmed the department’s acting secretary Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic. “Smart reported that 76% [of] cell sites are operational in Palawan, 78% [are] operational in Visayas, and 60%… in Mindanao. Overall restoration is [at] 71%.”

Globe also stated that it “continues its restoration efforts, especially in the areas hit by Typhoon Odette.” The telco has decided to extend bill rebates and payment due dates for affected customers until January 2. On the other hand, PLDT-Smart was focusing repairs in the severely-hit provinces of Bohol and Cebu.

“On Tuesday, PLDT and Smart have reconnected Panglao and Tagbilaran airports in Bohol, as well as the Bacolod-Silay International Airport in Negros Occidental,” said PLDT-Smart. “More and more towns have been fully restored in the northwest, northeast, midwest, southeast and southwest portions of Cebu, as well. The group has also reconnected more barangays in the town of Loboc in Bohol.”

Sources: GMA News, BusinessWorld