Duterte visits typhoon-hit Dinagat Islands
By Joshua Solano
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, visited typhoon-affected Dinagat Islands, where he vowed to provide means to speed up clearing operations and help residents reconstruct their homes.
Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlos Nograles, in a statement Thursday, said Duterte, together with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and other government officials, met with evacuees and local officials in Dinagal Islands to give directives to hasten relief in the area.
Nograles said the President tasked the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide financial assistance and continuously provide food packs to families affected by Typhoon Odette.
He said Duterte also mandated the Department of the Interior and Local Government to monitor and supervise the distribution of financial assistance.
The Natinal Housing Authority will provide housing assistance worth P100 million to victims in Dinagat Islands, whose houses were partially and totally damaged, Nograles added.
Nograles said the Department of Energy will ensure the delivery of gasoline and other petroleum products to Dinagat Islands.
“We again thank all generous allies in the international community, development partners, organizations, families, and individuals for the outpouring of support and compassion to our people,” Nograles said.
“We also assure our kababayans that your government continues to work double time in its relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts to aid displaced families in hard-hit areas as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the most devastating typhoon to hit our country this year,” Nograles added.
The President declared on Tuesday a state of calamity in at least six regions severely affected by Typhoon Odette, which included the Caraga Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
