Duterte pledges P2B each for provinces hit by Typhoon Odette

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte personally inspected and visited the typhoon-stricken southern Negros Occidental four days after Typhoon Odette wrought havoc and left casualties and damage in this part of the

province.

Duterte led the ceremonial distribution of family food packs, repair kits and hygiene kits, among others, after a briefing on the post-typhoon impacts in southern Negros.

The President, in his message, said he will give uniform financial assistance of P2 billion each to all affected provinces.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to Secretary Rolando Bautista, has extended 10,300 food packs to the affected families worth P5.7 million as of Dec. 20, 2021.

One of the beneficiaries who received a family food pack from the President was Ma. Ramona Desusa, 44 years old with five children, who shared her harrowing experience on the evening of Dec. 16, at the height of Typhoon Odette.

Desusa, who is from Barangay Talubangi in Kabankalan City, said the muddy floodwater rose so quickly. The next thing they knew, it was already beyond a normal person’s height.

“Good thing that my children were evacuated earlier. But I will never forget this,” Desusa said.

Desusa’s house was destroyed by two fallen trees aside from having been submerged in flood.

But she remains thankful for the attention that the Duterte administration is pouring into typhoon victims like her.

“All my life, this is the first time that I experience this kind of typhoon. This is also the first time that I experience receiving help from the President himself,” Desusa added. (With reports from PIA)