Robredo visits quake-hit Batanes; vows ‘fund drive’ for residents
Photo from OVP
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday vowed to raise funds through private organizations for residents of Itbayat, Batanes whose houses were damaged by strong successive earthquakes last Saturday.
During her visit to the town, Robredo said that while the government has funds to help residents affected by calamities, it might not be enough for everyone affected by the magnitude 5.4 and 5.9 quakes that rocked Itbayat and killed nine people.
READ: Death toll from Batanes twin quakes rises to 9
“Kinuhanan namin ng mga litrato iyong mga nasirang bahay. Magfa-fund drive kami for them (We took photos of damaged houses. We will launch a fund drive for them),” she told reporters.
Photo from OVP
Robredo also brought to Itbayat relief goods, which were funded by private organizations since, she noted, the Office of the Vice President’s budget does not include allocation for such item.
READ: State of calamity declared in quake-hit Itbayat
Citing conversations she had with residents, the Vice President said locals aired concerns about how to rebuild their houses since they lack the resources to do so.
Robredo also noted the damage to schools, hospitals, and churches brought by the powerful twin tremors. She said that while those structures must be rebuilt, she hoped their engineering designs will be tailored to withstand calamities, including earthquake.
Photo from OVP
“Kasi ‘yung mga nasira, ito ‘yung stone houses, na ito iyong pinaka-character ng Batanes. ‘Yung sabi namin kay Gov. (Marilou Cayco), dapat makaisip ng paraan na mare-retain pa din iyon pero ‘yung pagkagawa mawi-withstand na ‘yung ganitong sakuna,” she said.
Robredo further said appropriate protocols should also be set up for the prompt delivery of relief goods to Batanes.
“So siguro iyong kailangang i-consider din, magkaroon na ng parang naka-store na provisions – provisions lalo na sa pagkain, na may naka-store na dito (I think we should consider to have storage of provisions here especially food),” she said. /kga
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