P1.5 B CALAMITY AID: DU30 approves TGP’s request to help LGUs
By Ruel Saldico
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved and already ordered the release of P1.5 billion to augment the calamity funds of typhoon-stricken local government units (LGUs) in Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA) and V (Bicol region).
The release of additional calamity funds was made possible by Sen. Bong Go through the initiative of TGP partylist Rep. Jose “Bong” Teves, Jr., who requested the national government to provide additional financial assistance to typhoon-hit LGUs in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Bicol.
Teves, who is the vice chair of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Local Government, wrote a letter to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Wendel E. Avisado on Nov. 3, 2020, where he requested Avisado “to grant one (1) month worth of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to LGUS” battered by Typhoons “Quina” and “Rolly.”
He said the additional release will go a long way in helping augment the LGUs calamity and disaster funds, which are almost depleted as a result of expenses for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) response since March this year.
To recall, Go during his visit in the island province of Catanduanes after it was hit by “Rolly,” promised to Teves that the latter’s request for supplement calamity funds will be approved by Duterte. Go also thanked Teves for his idea and initiative to provide the funds to cash-strapped LGUs.
The governors of Bicol’s six provinces including the region’s mayors, who already received the additional funds, thanked Teves for his efforts to secure the approval and release of the funds.
Teves with Sen. Bong Go during the latter’s visit in Catanduanes.
TGP partylist Rep. Teves (white shirt) and Alumni Federation of Triskelion Organization headed by Bro. Chairman Jun Daway (blue shirt) distribute food packs to residents of Lobo and Lemery, Batangas.
Truckload of housing materials distributed by TGP partylist to typhoon victims in Virac and San Andres, Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, the TGP partylist, an environmental conservation organization, continues to help victims of the three recent typhoons that hit several regions in the country.
Teves, who represents TGP in Congress, said he knows how typhoon victims felt that is why TGP continues to to help them.
Aside from Catanduanes, Teves recently distributed assistance to typhoon victims in the provinces of Batangas, Rizal and Cavite.
He said he is scheduled to visit Albay and other Bicol provinces this December to bring relief goods to the typhoon-stricken Bicolanos. By January next year, he will visit areas in Cagayan province in Region II.
Among the partylist groups in the country, TGP is the most active and fastest in delivering help to typhoon victims in the region. Among the calamity assistance TGP is giving to victims of typhoons are food packs, bottled water and housing materials such as corrugated GI sheets and plywoods. It also provided free WiFi to residents of Catanduanes.
Free medical consultation conducted by TGP partylist and members of the Catanduanes Doctors Hospital Inc. (CDHI), which benefited some 700 residents.
The first batch roofing materials distributed by TGP totaled to 2,027 pieces. San Andres residents whose houses were destroyed received 527 and Virac residents received 1,500 pieces, 500 pieces of which came Mayor Paolo Teves.
Teves, also the vice chairman of the House’s Committee on Ecology, reminded Filipinos to protect nature and the environment.
One of Teves’ legislative proposal is the provision of environmental funds to LGUs. Under his proposal, the national government will allocate five percent, which will be used to protect and conserve he environment.
Teves expressed his gratitude to Tau Gamma Phi and other non government organizations, which are TGP’s partners in helping the typhoon victims.
TGP partylist is on its first term in Congress.
TGP partylist headed by Rep. Bong Teves Jr. participates in “TABANG TRISKELION,” a joint relief operations of the fraternity’s Rinconada Councils and Chapters in Camarines Sur.