Cebu to set aside more than P1B to aid towns, cities affected by ‘Odette’

Residents in barangay Matutinao, Badian look for food and water after super typhoon Odette hit southern Cebu on Thursday, December 16, 2021. Houses in the coastal areas are mostly damaged. / Contributed photos Carla Gerlado

CEBU CITY––The Cebu provincial government will allocate more than P1 billion to help towns and cities affected by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai)

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said there was no fixed amount yet since the assessment on the extent of the damage was ongoing.

“Rebuilding is important,” she said.

Some of the assistance will be in the form of building materials, while others will be food and groceries.

Beneficiaries will be given coupons to be redeemed from government-partnered stores.

Financial assistance from P5 million and P10 million will also be given to affected local governments.

Garcia on Wednesday met with hardware shops and grocery stores in Cebu to discuss the new coupon system of providing building materials and groceries for residents.

“My only request to suppliers is to cooperate with us. We will put a price cap, and please follow that,” she said.

Garcia funds will also be used for affected workers and stakeholders in Cebu’s tourism industry.

She said she was informed that all the boats used for whale-shark watching in Oslob were destroyed.

She said the provincial government would help secure new boats.

She is yet to meet with tourism stakeholders and affected resort owners in the next few days.

Garcia said she would meet with bank executives to provide low-interest loans for resort owners with facilities damaged by the typhoon.

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