The local government of Quezon City has recently distributed a total of P102.1 million in financial aid to its 11 adopted cities and municipalities ravaged by various typhoons.
According to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, who led the distribution on Tuesday, “Quezon City has been helping typhoon-hit areas not only through relief and rehabilitation efforts but also in improving the infrastructure facilities, especially [those] government-owned.”
Local government units (LGUs) are authorized under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 to use its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Fund to help other LGUs struck by calamities.
“The city government’s move was authorized by the QC Council,” said Karl Michael Marasigan, head of Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO).
The 11 LGU recipients include Ligao City, Albay, with P27.2-million assistance; Naga City, Camarines Sur, P20.2 million; Ilagan City, Isabela, P14.7 million; Tabuk City, Kalinga, P12.7 million; Mahatao, Batanes, P7.5 million; Pola, Oriental Mindoro, P6.4 million; Cagayan province, P4.5 million; Flora, Apayao, P4.05 million; Ivana, Batanes, P2.08 million; Itbayat, Batanes, P1.3 million; and Batanes provincial office, P1.1 million.
“Those 11 municipalities and cities were hit by different typhoons, such as Ferdie, Lando and Nona. Our being spared is not a reason not to help those who were not so lucky,” Marasigan said.
The Quezon City Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment team, composed of the QCDRRMO, Engineering Department and Quezon City Planning and Development Office, visited each of the beneficiary towns and cities, and assessed and reviewed the affected areas with the documents submitted by the municipalities and cities based on the Commission on Audit rules, policies and guidelines.
Quezon City has a total of 18 adopted cities and municipalities affected by typhoons. The QCDRRMO is also sending personnel to assist in disaster assessment for the immediate recovery and rehabilitation of its disaster-struck adopted cities and municipalities.
The city government has started the effort of extending financial and other kinds of support to LGUs all over the Philippines when Supertyphoon Yolanda hit the country in 2013.