PBBM office grants P80-M cash aid to ‘Kristine’ victims in Naga, Albay

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

SITE INSPECTION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. greets victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Naga City on Saturday (Oct. 26, 2024). The president visited the Bicol Region to personally inspect the devastation caused by Kristine and to hand out relief to the victims. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – The Office of the President (OP) on Saturday provided PHP80 million in financial assistance to the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) in the Bicol Region.

Marcos turned over the check worth PHP30 million to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion and the other PHP50 million to acting Albay Vice Governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao after the situation briefing at the Naga City Hall.

Speaking to select local officials of Bicol, the President said the government would continue to provide the immediate needs of the residents displaced by Kristine.

“At least for the immediate needs, it’s okay,” Marcos said.

“There’s still some rescue ongoing. Immediate concerns for the relief, mukha namang (it seems that) we have a sufficient supply of relief goods that are waiting to be able to go to different areas.”

Legacion said in his presentation that about 35,850 families, or 161,329 individuals, in Naga City were affected by the massive flooding brought by Kristine.

Ong-Bongao, on the other hand, reported that 571 houses were destroyed and 3,203 were damaged when Kristine battered Albay.

She added that the landslide in Burabon village in Libon, Albay damaged 20 houses.

Housing, medical assistance

Ong-Bongao recommended the relocation and granting of emergency housing assistance to households whose houses were destroyed and damaged when the storm struck.

“Nakita niyo po kanina sa Libon na kailangan ma-relocate na po ‘yung families. That’s 324 families na maaaring mag-landslide po sa Libon anytime (You saw earlier in Libon that families there have to be relocated. They are 324 families in Libon where landslide could happen anytime),” she told Marcos.

“Kailangan po silang ma-relocate and emergency shelter assistance sa (They need to be relocated and given emergency shelter assistance for those with) totally and partially damaged houses.”

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said the agency grants PHP30,000 worth of assistance to families whose houses were destroyed and PHP10,000 for those whose houses were damaged.

Marcos said the 571 displaced families whose houses were destroyed have to temporarily stay at the evacuation centers, pending their relocation.

He also said there was enough medicine supply for the victims of the severe tropical storm.

This was after he was briefed that some of them had cough and cold.

“For the medical concerns, it’s usually the medicines that we have to look at.

(Some might suffer from) leptospirosis and all the other diseases that come with the flooding… We have the good supply of medicines,” Marcos said.