Duterte vows to add P50M to initial P20M aid to Mayon evacuees

President Rodrigo Duterte presides at the briefing on the situation at Mount Mayon on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in Legazpi City. (Photo from an RTVM video)

LEGAZPI CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he would give P70 million for the operations, food, hygiene and sanitation of evacuation centers in Albay province, where some 84,000 people from Mount Mayon’s danger zones were staying.

The President announced the financial aid during his visit to Camp Simeon Ola here for a briefing on the situation in cities and municipalities around Mount Mayon.

“I’ll give you initially today 20 million [pesos] and I will augment it tomorrow by sending you about 50 [million pesos],” Duterte said.

He said he would arrange for the transport of portable toilets in Manila to Albay for use at the evacuation centers.

Vice President Leni Robredo had already sent 10 portable toilets to the evacuation centers to address the shortage of comfort rooms.

The President also said that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat were ready to release a quick reaction fund for the agriculture sector.

“But we will be there to rehabilitate [the farms]. It’s a matter of how lahar would affect the soil of your province. That’s our worry. Nothing grows,” Duterte said.

He was briefed by Director Renato Solidum Jr. of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Executive Director Ricardo Jalad of the National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council, and Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara.

Emergency loans

At a meeting with farmers affected by Mayon’s eruptions also on Monday, Piñol said the farmers whose crops were damaged by ashfall could avail themselves of emergency loans.

He said the loan was dubbed “sure loaning program survival and recovery.”

“Each farmer can avail himself of an initial P5,000 that can be used to buy their immediate basic needs like food,” the agriculture secretary said.

No interest, collateral

He said a maximum of P20,000 could be lent to each farmer, payable in three years without interest and collateral.

For Nilo Morales, the loan being offered by the Department of Agriculture, will help him a lot as his almost two hectares of rice field was damaged by ashfall.

“The money they will lend us will be used as  starting capital. I’ll buy ‘binhi’ [seedlings] for a start,’’ he said.

Damaged crops

Che Rebeta, provincial agriculturist, placed at P185 million the damage to agriculture in Albay, particularly in the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig and Ligao City.

Hybrid palay seeds and gardening tools will be distributed to farmers to help them start again.

Mary Anne Molina, Bicol director of the Fiber Industry Development Authority, said 115 hectares of abaca plants were also affected by ash fall.

Cash for work

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set aside P30 million for a work program for the Mayon evacuees. It is expected to benefit at least 10,000 households.

Rovelinda dela Rosa, assistant regional director of DOLE Bicol, said each person would be paid P290 a day.

“They will work inside the evacuation centers to maintain the safety and cleanliness. Each will be given maximum of 10 days to work,” she said.

Safe shelters

While the government offers help, the displaced residents around the foot of Mt. Mayon are demanding safe and permanent shelters away from the threats of lahar, lava and ashfall.

Marcial Padua, 81, one of the evacuees said staying at evacuation centers make him more weak and sickly.

“At my age, it’s hard for me to be staying with several evacuees in a crowded room,” he said.

He added that the evacuees had long wanted to have permanent shelters, but past administrations had ignored the request.

“I think President Duterte will grant our request and we could [see] he really cares for poor Filipinos like us,” he said. –With a report from Ma. April Mier

/atm