Gov’t offices tapped
for ‘Ondoy’ relief funds
BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
PRESIDENT Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro and 42 Cabinet members are donating two months salary to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help provide assistance to victims of storm "Ondoy."
Arroyo made the announcement during a Cabinet meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council office in Camp Aguinaldo.
The donated salaries will amount to P5.653 million.
The President receives a monthly salary of P63,525; the vice president P50,820, and Cabinet members, P44,468.
Of the 42 Cabinet men who are donating their salaries, 23 have line functions.
Arroyo, during the meeting, also instructed the budget department to determine if it could release the 13th month pay and bonuses of government employees affected by Ondoy.
De Castro encouraged private companies in the affected areas to do the same and extend assistance to the victims.
The Government Service Insurance System said members affected by Ondoy can apply for GSIS emergency loans up to P20,000 from October 1 to 31. Covered are members residing in areas declared under a state of calamity.
GSIS allotted P5 billion for the loan program, said president Winston Garcia.
Social Security System chairman Romulo Neri said they have P3 billion to P5 billion in funds which could be loaned to members for house repair and improvement.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the department is making available to its employees and public school teachers a P20,000 loan from the Provident Fund at 6 percent interest.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said a P10,000 loan is also available to families of overseas Filipino workers who were affected by the flooding.
The Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-ibig) is also making available up to P3 billion in calamity loans.
The Land Bank of the Philippines is relaxing its loan policies to borrowers affected by Ondoy.
LandBank said farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, small and medium enterprises, countryside financial institutions, local government units, and other loan clients would be extended longer maturity dates, refinancing and the facilitation of the release of guarantee claims under the Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool.
MISUNDERSTOOD
Arroyo said government’s disaster response work is often misunderstood but she will listen to her critics who suffered from Ondoy’s onslaught because they "have the right to be dismayed" and their suggestions may improve government’s services.
The opposition has criticized government for its slow response to the floods in Metro Manila.
Arroyo said government gave its best response within the limitations of a "once-in-a-lifetime emergency."
She said Ondoy’s rains are almost double that of hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans in the US. She said the US government, despite billions of dollars and modern equipment, took three days before it could start a national disaster response.
IMPROVING RESPONSE
She also thanked the media, which her spokesmen have criticized for allegedly picking on her, for joining the relief operations.
She said government is considering the proposals of experts on how to improve disaster response in the future.
However, she was quick to add that there is no perfect response to unexpected incidents.
Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Manila archbishop, said the Archdiocese would be spearheading the fund-raising efforts via special collections at all masses, including anticipated masses in parishes, chapels and malls.
He said donations in kind will also be welcomed and should be coordinated with all Caritas Manila offices in local parishes.
SEIZED GOODS
The Bureau of Customs ordered all seized contraband goods languishing in customs warehouses released to the DSWD for distribution to flood-affected victims.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said as per initial inventory, four 20-footer containers containing used clothing and two 20-footer containers of canned meatloaf are immediately available for distribution.
The seized containers were originally slated for auction by the BOC.
Morales said they are also releasing medicines and water purifier tablets.
Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali M. Gonzales II said 600 sacks of rice were up for distribution.
He said P20,000 each was given to 10 barangays affected by the storm. These are Addition Hills, Bagong silang, Tandang Bato libis, Daang Bakal, Poblacion, Vergara, Namayan, Hulo, Mabini-J Rizal, and Harapin ang Bukas.
The local government of Pateros appealed for resources and relief items, saying it has run out of food, medicines and other basic necessities.
Pateros Mayor Joey Medina said 4, 500 families, of which 1, 200 are still in evacuation centers, he said.
MMDA RELIEF CENTERS
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has opened relief centers around Metro Manila to receive donations.
MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando donations may be dropped off at the agency’s Road Emergency Stations located on Edsa-Timog, Edsa-Ortigas, Edsa-Buendia, Edsa-Roxas Boulevard, C-5/Libis, Aurora-Katipunan, Nagtahan/Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard and at the provincial bus station at Trinoma mall in Quezon City.
The public may call the agency’s emergency hotlines 882-08-97 and 882-21-44 for queries.
In Negros Occidental, the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations Inc. said it is sending 1,000 50-kilo bags of sugar to flood victims in Metro Manila. – With Regina Bengco, Gerard Naval, Dennis Gadil, Ashzel Hachero and Gilbert Bayoran
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