Palawan Liga President and Board Member Ferdinand “Inan” Zaballa confirmed yesterday, January 7, that the province received 3,000 sacks of rice donated by former senator and now presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for Odette victims in certain areas in the province.
Zaballa said that 2,000 sacks were turned over to the Palawan provincial government, 500 sacks were given to the City Government of Puerto Princesa and 500 were given to the Palawan Liga Office.
These were meant for Typhoon Odette-affected residents in the northern towns of the province, certain barangays in Puerto Princesa, and southern barangays of Palawan who have not been affected by the recent typhoon but also in preparation for the threat of the Omicron variant as the country slowly goes to its third surge of the pandemic.
“3,000 ang total. Noong bumisita sina former senator BBM at Mayor Sara, na-turn over na nila ito. Pinag-usapan namin. 2,000 sa kapitolyo, 500 para kina Mayor Bayron sa city at 500 ang ibinahagi nila para sa Palawan Liga na atin naming idi-distribute sa mga assessed barangays natin na nangangailangan hindi lang ng ayuda kundi in preparation sa pagpasok natin sa third surge ng COVID-19,” Zaballa said.
Zaballa cited that the 500 sacks for the Palawan Liga office would be allotted for the southern barangays who are still in need of aid and support as cases of COVID-19 push the national government to restrain unvaccinated individuals in the barangays from leaving their homes.
“Nakipag-usap na tayo sa mga kapwa natin kapitan sa southern Palawan, so magbibigay sila ng listahan ng pangalan ng mga kabarangay nila na naapektuhan din noong bagyo at the same time, dahil hindi naman masyadong severely hit ang south, itong mga bigas ay ibibigay rin as ayuda dahil tayo ay nasa pandemya pa rin. Given the recent order of the president, mas mahihirapan gumalaw ang mga kabarangay nating unvaccinated, kaya sila rin ay target na mabigyan ng parte dito sa donation,” Zaballa said.
Zaballa is targeting to fully distribute the said rice donation within this month.
“Minamadali natin ito. The soonest na matapos ang listahan nila, the soonest na maibibigay na agad. Ako I’ve been thinking kasi, sa tumataas na kaso ng COVID-19 sa probinsya, panigurado magkakaroon na naman tayo ng mga pagbabago at paghihigpit. Bago mangyari ‘yun, gusto ko naipamahagi na natin agad ito sa ating mga ka-barangay,” Zaballa further said.