P1 billion financial aid to Odette survivors released to LGUs

A young girl whose home in Leyte had been ravaged by Typhoon Odette stands by the roadside, appealing for help. Photos courtesy: PeerShare Inc.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released an initial P1 billion financial aid to local government units (LGUs) that sustained damages due to Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai), said to be the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

The DBM in a statement Friday said that the cash assistance will be distributed to LGUs in regions declared under a state of calamity. These are Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga.

The following is the breakdown of the financial assistance:
Mimaropa – P171.57 million
Western Visayas – P207.25 million
Central Visayas – P188.31 million
Eastern Visayas – P142.50 million
Northern Mindanao – P122.99 million
Caraga – P167.38 million

The allocation was computed based on the Report of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center on the number of affected families or individuals and on damages incurred on infrastructure and agriculture sectors, the DBM said.

The agency noted that the fund was sourced from the Fiscal Year 2021 contingent fund and will be released directly by the Bureau of Treasury to the LGUs through their respective authorized government servicing banks.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, almost 3.6 million individuals were affected by the typhoon’s onslaught.

Odette has already killed 326 people, based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s latest report.

EDV