Help for ‘Yolanda,’ Zambo siege victims drains ARMM finances

ARMM volunteers distribute relief to residents whose houses were destroyed by huge waves whipped up by a low pressure area that became Tropical Depression “Agaton” in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao province. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMM BPI

COTABATO CITY—The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which had come to the aid of victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas, is now facing a serious lack of funds that the regional government needs to help its people deal with the effects of Tropical Depression “Agaton.”

Haroun Alrashid Lucman, ARMM vice governor, said the regional government’s funds had also been drained by its relief operations for victims of the terror attack on Zamboanga City by followers of Moro leader Nur Misuari.

“There’s a need now for local government units to pitch in and pool our resources in confronting problems on disasters, despite our limitations,” he said.

At least 500 people were displaced when waves whipped up by Agaton battered villages in the provinces of Sulu and Maguindanao last week.

1,000 affected

In Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, alone, more than 1,000 people had suffered damage to property as a result of the waves, according to the ARMM’s civil defense office.

Pombaen Karon-Kader, ARMM assistant social welfare secretary, said the lack of funds of the region was also brought about by “the slow response from other local government units (LGUs) in the region.”

She said the regional social welfare office had to assume the role of the LGUs, which did not provide help to affected areas.

“Considering the importance of ‘protocol’ in responding to emergencies, the vice governor and the regional disaster team come to the rescue only after local executives and other branches of government in the affected towns have acted,” Lucman said, adding that this had not been the case, though.

Kader said that even then, the regional government managed to provide limited relief assistance, consisting of food items, used clothing and bedding.

Davao keeps helping

In Davao City, even as Southern Mindanao battled the effects of Agaton, four brand-new farm tractors once intended for areas hit by Typhoon “Pablo” were being transported to Yolanda-hit areas to help in clearing and land preparation for the next planting season, said Remelyn Recoter, regional director of the Department of Agriculture.

“It’s sort of paying forward—a new thrust of the Department of Agriculture,” she said.

Recoter said that when farm rehabilitation efforts started in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, farmers there also got aid in the form of tractors lent by other regions.

She said some P4 million in savings from the P315-million quick response fund for Pablo would also be reprogrammed for Yolanda-devastated areas.

In Davao Oriental, Gov. Corazon Malanyaon said she could not thank Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the Davao City council enough for the financial aid that the low pressure area (LPA)-devastated province got.

Generous

Davao del Norte Gov. Arturo Uy also said Duterte and his council also sent help to other LPA-affected areas in the province.

Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley got P2 million each in aid from the Davao City government.

“Duterte and the city council are so kind for being concerned about the suffering of the people of Davao Oriental,” Malanyaon added.

The Davao City government has been very active in helping calamity victims.