Facade of the Makati City Hall. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Makati on Friday released P19-million worth of cash assistance to its 39 “sister” local government units.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay led the distribution of the assistance. Depending on the severity of the damage, the local government allocated P250,000 to P1 million per locality.
“We are aware of the devastation caused by these disasters, and through this financial assistance, we want to help communities rebuild and bring back a sense of normalcy to their lives,” Binay said in a statement.
“We hope that this assistance will help bring some relief and comfort to our sister LGUs, and I urge everyone to continue to work together and help our fellow Filipinos in this difficult time,” she added.
The following localities are among those which received cash aid from the Makati City government: Enrile and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan; Gasan in Marinduque; Legazpi City in Albay; Labo in Camarines Norte; Libmanan in Camarines Sur; Bato and Virac in Catanduanes; Libacao, Nabas, and New Washington in Aklan; Bugasong, Hamtic, Libertad, San Jose de Buenavista, and Tobias Fornier in Antique; Cuartero, Dao, Dumarao, and Sigma in Capiz; Batad, Carles, Dumangas, Estancia, Iloilo City, Pototan, and San Dionisio in Iloilo; Pulupandan in Negros Occidental; Zamboanga City in Zamboanga Del Sur; Datu Abdullah Sangki, General Salipada K. Pendatun, Pagalungan, and Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao.
The city also gave financial aid to localities affected by the Abra earthquake, namely, Caoayan in Ilocos Sur; and Bangued, Bucay, Dolores, Pilar, and Tayum in Abra.
It can be recalled that in July 2022, a magnitude 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous province of Abra, while Typhoon Paeng hit the country last October.
Under the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the local disaster risk reduction and management council may transfer funds to support other local government units upon its recommendation.
To date, Makati has 558 sister local government units in the Philippines. — Mae Anne Bilolo, INQUIRER.net trainee
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