MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is finalizing a department order that mandates local government units (LGUs) to use part of their calamity funds to provinces struck by Typhoon “Pablo.”

“It will be an LGU to LGU accounting. Pwede nilang ipadala ang donasyon sa LGU ng probinsya, bayan, o barangay na naapektuhan (They may send donations to affected LGUs in provinces, cities or barangays),” DILG Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas said on Wednesday, December 12.

The move is part of efforts to hasten recovery for the typhoon victims of typhoon Pablo.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 50 provinces, municipalities and cities have declared states of calamity due to Pablo. The typhoon’s death toll is at over 700.

Private donations

Aside from government aid, various private donations have poured in for the victims.

Also on Wednesday, Roxas accepted a P10-M check for the victims from the Chinese-Filipino community.

He said the money would be used for practical relief packages and other goods like stoves, cooking supplies, blankets and materials for makeshift shelter like tarpaulin sheets.

“You have to remember that the homes and livelihood of people in the towns of New Bataan, Cateel, Boston, and Baganga were completely wiped out. While relief goods such as rice, noodles, and canned goods come in, they need a stove so they can cook and eat the food,” Roxas said, adding that the fallen coconut trees can be used as wood fuel for cooking.

The DILG has also received pledges for some P70,000 worth of relief goods from other private donors.

All bases covered

DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman assured the public that all municipalities in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, contrary to some media reports, have been reached and are currently receiving relief operations.

She said she was in touch with Davao Oriental Gov Corazon Malanyaon who told her all municipalities are now getting aid.

Roxas added that there are efforts focused on searching for the hundreds of missing tuna fisherman from General Santos City.

Three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships and two Coast Guard ships are scouring the waters of Davao Oriental for the missing, in search for survivors.

Of the 890 missing, more than 300 are said to be fishermen. – Rappler.com

Click on the links below for more: 

• UK pledges P22.2-M for ‘Pablo’ relief efforts
• ‘Pablo’ agri damage climbs to P11.57-B
• EU pledges P160-M in aid for typhoon survivors
• P42-M worth of bunkhouses for ‘Pablo’ victims
• ‘Pablo:’ Help from Indonesia, OFWs in Dubai