Representatives from the Palawan Provincial Government on Sunday, February 13, distributed P5000 in cash assistance to each Typhoon Odette-affected household in Barangays Jolo, Caramay, and Tinitian in Roxas town.
According to a press release from the Palawan Provincial Information Office (PIO), a total of P155 million worth of assistance from the Office of the President has been disbursed to families in Roxas.
The combined team fast-tracked the distribution from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Reymart Laya, whose home was destroyed, was one of the beneficiaries who received P5,000 cash. “Kung babalikan ‘yung nangyari, hindi ko alam na aabot sa ganoon. Poste at halos bubong na lang natira sa bahay namin. Mabuti na lang po at maraming tumutulong at nagdo-donate sa mga kagaya namin,” Laya said.
The cash assistance was requested from the National Government by Palawan Governor Jose Chavez Alvarez as the province suffered a billion worth of infrastructure and agricultural damages.
In an interview, Roxas ABC President Anne Catalan said that residents in her barangay were severely affected as Odette crushed their main livelihood, particularly their farmlands and fishing boats.
“Hindi namin noon alam kung papaano magsisimula uli. Sa mga pananim palang na gulay na na-damage ni Odette, panahon na naman ang kailangan hintayin para maka-harvest at kumite sila, ang mga mangingisda namin, halos lahat nasiraan ng bangka,” Catalan said.
Catalan also expressed her gratitude over the continued support extended by the Palawan Provincial Government to her kababayans.
“Malaking pasasalamat po kasi mula nang matapos ang bagyo, tuloy-tuloy ang tulong at suporta ng ating mga kapwa lingkod bayan sa ating provincial government, napakalaking tulong po, balang araw babangon muli ang Roxas at kami naman ang tutulong,” Catalan said.