Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday endorsed the immediate release of the administration’s P150 million in financial assistance to thousands of flood victims in the Davao Region.
At the same time, the offices of Romualdez and Tingog Reps. Yedda K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre continue to facilitate the flow of aid to Davao by sending 21,000 food packs from personal “calamity funds” of the Speaker to affected areas of the flooding.
The offices of Speaker Romualdez and Tingog also facilitated and requested the immediate release of 30,000 food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for flood victims.
“This is to reassure and let our kababayans in Davao Region know that the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is here and it is doing its best to alleviate their condition. Aid will continue to flow in your areas as you all recover from the adverse effects of the floods,” Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said.
“We hope and pray for everyone affected by this natural calamity in Davao Region. Rest assured that we will continue to find ways to send help to Davao Oriental,” he added.
“We cannot be sidetracked by political issues that distract us from our primary objectives. We need to ensure that work will continue and public service will reach the people, especially during these difficult times,” the Speaker said.
Speaker Romualdez endorsed to the DSWD the release of P150 million in financial aid to flood victims under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
The release is through the congressional districts of Davao lawmakers, as well as through local government executives.
It is broken down as follows: Davao de Oro Reps. Maricar Zamora, P20 million, and Ruwel Gonzaga, P20 million; Davao Oriental Reps. Cheeno Almario, P20 million, and Nelson Dayanghirang, P20 million; Davao del Norte Rep. Aldu Dujali, P20 million; PBA Partylist Rep. Migz Nograles, P20 million; Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Oyo Uy, P20 million; and Davao de Oro Vice Governor Tyron Uy, P10 million.
As for the food packs, Rep. Romualdez said over 21,000 relief goods have been dispatched to several members of the House of Representatives in the Davao region, as well as to local executives in the province of Davao Oriental.
“We have initially dispatched 21,000 food packs to Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro to provide relief to the 455 families reported by the Office of Civil Defense-Davao to have been evacuated and for those severely affected,” Rep. Yedda Romualdez said.
For the past weeks, citizens from Davao Oriental have been bouncing back from the disastrous consequences of heavy rains in the region, where a total of 45,000 families or 187,000 individuals have been affected.
Speaker Romualdez has instructed several Davao lawmakers to distribute aid packs to their respective constituencies under his office’s calamity assistance fund and also dispatched food packs to several local government officials in Davao Oriental for distribution.
The breakdown is as follows: Rep. Zamora, 3,000 packs; Rep. Dujali, 3,000 packs; Rep. Almario, 3,000 packs; Rep. Dayanghirang, 3,000 packs; Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Uy, 3,000 packs; Rep. Gonzaga, 2,000 packs; Davao de Oro Vice Governor Uy, 2,000 packs; and Pantukan Mayor Jhong Ceniza, 2,000 packs.
“Our response to this disaster reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by natural calamities to our citizens. The involvement of local representatives in the relief efforts is crucial, as they play a key role in mobilizing resources and ensuring that aid is distributed effectively,” Rep. Yedda Romualdez for her part said.