DAVAO CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod on Thursday approved an P11-million aid to victims of Typhoon Nina.
In a special session held at the behest of Mayor Sara Duterte, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the resolution that paved the way for the city government to draw the money from its five-percent calamity fund so it could extend help to typhoon victims in the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur, and the city of Calapan.
On Wednesday, Duterte asked the Sangguniang Panlungsod to hold a special session so they could discuss her proposed aid for the victims of Nina.
In a one-page letter to her brother and Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who chairs the City Council, the mayor said she wanted “prompt and immediate aid” to the victims of the disaster.
Under the approved resolution, Camarines Sur will get the biggest aid of P7.47 million followed by Albay P1.3 million. Catanduanes will get P1.065 million while Calapan City will get P1.165 million.
Vice Mayor Duterte said the aid would be delivered to the local governments of the affected areas either in check or cash.
He said the SP found the mayor’s request in order as Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code allows the use of the five-percent calamity fund in areas affected by a disaster or calamity even if these are not part of the city.
Vice Mayor Duterte said the city government was also in a position to send aid to Typhoon Nina-stricken areas as it still had unused appropriation from its annual calamity fund.
“We found it fitting to use it to help others who are suffering from the devastation of the typhoon,” he said.
This is not the first time the city government extended financial aid to calamity-stricken areas outside of the city.
In October, the Davao City government also sent P5 million to areas hit by Typhoon Lawin.
When he was still mayor, President Rodrigo Duterte also delivered P11 million to LGUs in Typhoon Nona-hit areas of Sorsogon and Oriental Mindoro.
The city government also sent P8-million worth of aid to areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, and millions of pesos in financial assistance to Typhoon Pablo and Tropical Storm Sendong victims. CDG/rga
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