PGMA distributes cash assistance, relief goods to ES flood victims

By ALICE E. NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
February 23, 2008

DOLORES, Eastern Samar  –  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited here today flood-trodden Eastern Samar province and distributed some cash assistance to the families of flood victims.

Amid a cheering Doloresnon crowd the President, clad in black pants and white blouse but accented with a red scarf, alighted from her car and shook hands with the people near her and proceeded to the Municipal Hall’s Conference Room, where she was briefed about the extent of damage by Governor Ben Evardone and Secretary Anthony Golez of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

In the presentation, President Arroyo interrupted in between to order DPWH ASEC Jimmy Pacanan to expedite bidding and awarding procedures in order to fast track rehabilitation of the major route leading to the province. ASEC Pacanan in turn informed the President that his office is working round the clock to finish all needed task. The bailey bridge at Macabut bridge in McArthur is expected to start servicing commuters next week to facilitate the major route connecting Eastern Samar to the rest of Region 8.

Not long after, she distributed some P20,000 cash to each family of flood victims. With the amount, the President hopes the affected families can start anew. Aside from the 12 families, 500 more flood victims received family packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Leonora Robredillo, 48 a laundry woman from barangay 10, showed this writer the sores in her hands, but the same hands received the family packs of three kilos rice, sardines and noodles.

"I am happy that I have this bag of goodies," she said. "Maybe, I can rest my hands for a few days because of this provision, also I am most happy that I saw President Arroyo in person," she said with a big smile in her face.

Prior to the President’s visit, Governor Ben Evardone and Congressman Doloy Coquilla separately conducted relief and rescue operations, notwithstanding the individual mayors who likewise did their part in distributing assistance. With the enormity of the damage, the two top leaders of the province just have to cover quickly more victims in their relief operation, thus the separate operation.

Since February 13, torrential rains have placed Eastern Samar in a disadvantage condition leaving more than P500M in infrastructure damage and P126M in agriculture loss.