Davao City gov’t turns over aid to areas affected by storm

Davao City has turned over some P17.7 million financial assistance to areas affected by Severe Tropical Kristine in Visayas and Luzon.

Among these areas is the Province of Catanduanes that was given P1 million. Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Head, Alfredo Baloran, handed the aid over personally to the local government unit.

Catanduanes was among the 35 LGUs that declared a state of calamity due to massive flooding.

“Sugod niadtong November 20, si Col. Alfredo Baloran, ang atoang Department Head sa CDRRMO, mibyahe siya ug ang iyahang schedule Nov. 20 to Dec. 4. Traynta y singko ni ka local government units, naa’y highly urbanized city ug naa pud municipalities,” Davao CDRRMO Assistance Head, Rodolfo Encabo, said.

The other regions affected include Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, and 8.

Earlier, the Davao City Council approved the P17.7 million cash assistance.

Of this amount, P300,000 is intended for every municipality affected; P500,000 for every city; and P1 million for every province.

CDRRMO assured that the city still has sufficient funds should a calamity strikes.

“We have enough funds sa city government. Before the year of 2024 ends, naa na gyu’y nakapondo, either naa’y disaster o wala, andam gyud ang city government nga aduna ta’y contingency fund nga i-reserve para sa atoa pud nga magamit sa dakbayan sa Davao,” Encabo said.

According to state weather bureau PAGASA, there may be one or two more weather disturbances that may enter the country before the end of 2024.

“Naa puy mga formation of Low Pressure Area ug posible naay bagyo, usa o duha ka bagyo for December 2024… in the lower latitudes na na kasagaran, sa Visayas ug Northern Mindanao area… Kay ang hangin, nibaliktad naman ang hangin into the northeast nga direksyon. So, pababa napud ang track sa mga bagyo,” PAGASA-Davao Chief Meteorological Officer, Engr. Lolita Vinalay, said.

—GMA Regional TV