Capitol releases P5M calamity fund to Cordova

THE Cebu provincial government turned over financial assistance worth P5 million to the municipality of Cordova to help the town cope with the ill effects brought about by the recent oil spill yesterday.

The money will be used to fund the study conducted by researchers from the University of San Carlos (USC) assessing the oil spill’s damage to Cordova’s marine habitat including its ravaged mangrove plantations, said town mayor Adelino Sitoy.

Sitoy who personally received the check from Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday at the Capitol said the remaining amount will be utilized in alternative livelihood projects for the remaining 500 families affected by the spill.

Thousands of families especially the fisherfolk were suddenly left without livelihood after the sinking of the MV St. Thomas Aquinas caused an oil spill that hit hard the town’s coastal areas.

The P5 million was taken from the Capitol’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund.