Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) devastated Palawan that left most houses made of light materials flattened. Photo from Jenny Macatiag
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday committed to provide millions worth of assistance to Typhoon Odette victims in Palawan.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that they will allocate P15 million for the recovery of Odette victims in Palawan who lost their livelihoods.
He said that they will provide P10,000 to 500 beneficiaries in Puerto Princesa and to 1,000 recipients in other parts of Palawan.
“So, mag-a-allocate tayo ng P10 million para sa province of Palawan at bukod pa ho ‘yung Puerto Princesa, 500 po na P10,000 bawat isa. So, another P5 million,” Lopez announced during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to typhoon victims in the province.
(We will allocate P10 million for the province of Palawan. This is separate from the assistance to Puerto Princesa, 500 people will each receive P10,000 So, another P5 million.)
“P15 million po para ho makabangon kaagad ‘yung kabuhayan ho nung mga nawalan ng ating kababayan,” he added.
(P15 million to immediately restore the livelihoods of our fellow Filipinos who lost one.)
The DA, meanwhile, said that they will allot P101 million to thousands of farmers suffering the impact of Odette in the province.
Thousands of boats, meanwhile, will be provided to the fisherfolk.
“Para po sa 20,000 farmers, magbibigay po ang DA ng P101 million para po sa Palawan. Tapos mayroon po tayo para sa fisherfolk naman po, 5,000 na bangka po ang ibibigay ng Department of Agriculture,” a DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said.
(For our 20,000 farmers, the DA will give P101 million for Palawan. And we will also provide 5,000 boats for our fisherfolk.)
On top of that, bags of seeds will likewise be given to farmers.
“Magbibigay din po ng 15,000 bags ng certified rice seeds para sa ating mga magsasaka at 5,000 po na vegetable seeds naman po para po sa ating mga magsasaka,” the DA official said.
(We will also give 15,000 bags of certified rice seeds and 5,000 vegetable seeds to our farmers.)
For his part, Duterte apologized to Odette victims in Palawan over the delay in government response, citing that there are many areas ravaged by the typhoon.
“Mag-apologize muna ako. Maghingi ako ng tawad na napatagal ang response sa gobyerno. Sa totoo lang, hirap rin kami dito sa itaas because of the so many places scattered around at malalayo, island for island, at pati ‘yung pera,” he told the victims.
(I would like to apologize first because of the delayed government response. Honestly, we are challenged here because of the so many places scattered around and far from one another, island for island, and money.)
Duterte assured the victims that he has raised P10 billion which will be distributed to affected individuals.
The president recently declared a state of calamity in Odette-affected areas, particularly in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga.
Based on the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 258 individuals across the country were killed by Odette, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.