Duterte orders release of office funds to aid Odette victims

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered the release of funds from the Office of the President to help communities affected  by Typhoon Odette.

“What I can promise you is that I said on or before Friday, the money will be downloaded. Hindi ito yung contingent fund, hindi yung calamity (This is not the contingency or calamity fund). This is the money nakuha ko (I got) from my office,” Duterte said during his Talk to the People.

“Itong akin nag-scrimp lang ako para may maibigay ako so that it will be immediately given to the people,” he added.

Duterte earlier said that he is also talking to the Department of Budget and Management for available money for the calamity-stricken areas, stressing that funds have been depleted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, assured the public that the government is doing its best to address the needs of the people affected by the typhoon.

“I said on or before Friday, I will be downloading the money to you, para sa tao ito, lahat up to the last centavo para sa tao ito (this is for the people, up to the last centavo is for the people),” he said.

Duterte earlier visited the provinces ravaged by super typhoon Odette to see the condition of the people and overall situation in the areas.—LDF, GMA News