ILOILO CITY, Mar 28 (PNA) –Families of 10 casualties during the height of typhoon “Yolanda” were finally able to receive P10,000 financial assistance each from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. and Vice Governor Raul C. Tupas assisted personnel of the Office of Civil Defense and the Western Visayas DRRMC in the distribution of checks for the first batch of recipients of the assistance at the capitol.
Families of casualties Teodoreto P. Panis and Juvi S. Tingson of Zarraga, Iloilo; Benjie A. Brasileno, Janiuay; Marianita A. Daquita, Dingle; Jovic C. Doyongan, Wilbert B. Flaviano, Mamerto F. Barlao, Jr. of Estancia; James Cyril R. Lapatha, Duenas; Diolyn Joy A. Apura, Lemery; and Gloria D. Balino of Barotac Viejo belonged to the first batch released with assistance by the NDRRMC.
The Iloilo Provincial DRRMC, however, has recorded a total of 171 casualties due to the typhoon whose families will also be given financial assistance by the provincial government sooner aside from that given by the NDRRMC.
Milagros, wife of Jovic C. Doyongan who came to receive the assistance on Friday, said that she is thankful for the P10,000 amount given her. Crying, she recalled that her husband was pinned down by the cemented wall of their house that collapsed midnight of Nov. 8 due to the super typhoon. She said that her husband was looking for their son, 10 years old, who was left inside their room when they were about to flee from their house.
She said that her husband used to farm a small piece of lot for their living but because he is now gone she has to fend for their five children by selling food that she cooks in front of a school in their barangay. She said that with the money she received, she intends to buy some more items that she could sell to their neighbors and teachers. (PNA)
PDS/AJPETINGLAY/VLO