DOLE releases financial aid to Davao blast victims

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it would release financial assistance to the families of the fatalities and victims of the Davao city blast that claimed 14 lives.

During the appropriations committee hearing of the proposed DOLE P13.293 billion budget for 2017, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the department would release P10,000 each for the families of the fatalities, and P5,000 each for the victims who were injured in the blast.

“We are still looking for possible immediate assistance,” Bello told the lawmakers.

He said the DOLE is looking at providing the victims “negosyo” cards for them to start their own business.

Bello said some victims were barbecue vendors who do not own the stalls.

READ: P2-M reward for bomber | Bloody Friday in Davao 

During the Department of Health’s proposed budget hearing on Tuesday, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said the department also released P10 million assistance fund to the Southern Philippines Medical Center and other regional health offices in Davao City where the survivors of the blast were confined.

READ: DOH releases P10-M for Davao blast victims

An explosion rocked the Roxas boulevard night market Friday night, claiming 14 lives and leaving 67 wounded. Police is investigating a supposed alliance between drug lords and the bandit group Abu Sayyaf in the attack.

Police said the explosion was caused by a mortar round remotely detonated by a cell phone. The victims also sustained shrapnel wounds from the improvised explosive device.

The blast compelled Duterte to declare a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence. JE

READ: What is state of lawless violence? | So it’s now state of nat’l emergency in effect