Pasil, Kalinga – The provincial government unit of Kalinga through Governor Ferdinand Tubban awarded on January 12 the first tranche of almost P1 million worth financial assistance to the 48 families of Sitio Yogyog, Pugong, Pasil who were forced to be relocated due to a landslide caused by Typhoon Rosita in 2018.
Each of the 48 families received P10,000 on Wednesday. Another P10,000 will be given by February this year.
During the distribution of aid, Tubban assured the availability fund saying the Provincial Government has alloted budget for it.
Assisting the governor during the ceremonial turn over were PSWD Officer Rosemaritez Oyawon, Mayor Alfredo “Chao-ig” Malannag Jr., MSWD Officer Segundina Gumabay, and Executive Assistant Elizabeth Balais II.
Pasil Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Marlyn Pagutayao, in an interview, explained that the cash aid shall be used by the recipients to pay for the land where they currently occupy.
This, she stated, is for the 48 families to legally own the relocation site.
A glimpse of the Disaster
Pagutayao recalled that they received a report in November 2018 from the barangay officials of Pugong that the land in Sitio Yogyog was slowly sinking from the non-stop rain brought about by Typhoon Rosing.
This prompted MDRRMC Chairperson Mayor Alfredo “Chao-ig” Malannag Jr. to have an ocular inspection in the area with his officials. Observing that the area was susceptible to erosion, the mayor immediately implemented preemptive evacuation.
“Napilit dagiay families nga nag-evacuate uray madi dagiay dadduma ta madi da panawan ti livelihood da. Adda napan ti families da, adda napan ti LGU facilities,” narrated Pagutayao.
While the area did not collapse yet, MDRRMC conducted ‘Operation Angkas’ where the agencies, along with the community from various barangays in the municipality, helped in dismantling the houses to save some of the furniture, materials, and properties.
A command center was also activated in Pugong while the council administered emergency operations.
Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) likewise visited as requested by Pasil LGU for their assessment and recommendation.
The concerted efforts resulted to zero casualty when the area finally eroded on November 11, 2018.
Relocation of the victims
With the assistance granted by municipal, provincial and national government and donations of humanitarian organizations, the families were able to have a house with 5x6 dimension each.
The 48 families were relocated to the sites recommended by MGB.
Assistance to the 48 families
Among the agencies who aided the victims were Philippine Red Cross- Cagayan and Kalinga Chapter providing P4,752,000 for the labor cost, local materials and hardware materials.
Meanwhile, Pasil MDRRMC handed over P10,000 to each of the families as partial payment to the landowners of relocation. The council also shouldered the P60,000 transhipment cost of the housing materials.
DSWD gave P690,000, while Philippine National Red Cross provided P720,000 in support of the livelihood of the victims.
In addition, Tabuk CDRRMC, headed by Tubban who was then the city mayor, extended P43,300 for the food and blanket of the affected families.
Assistance from Kalinga LGU
According to Pagutayao, the fund was made available since the time of the previous administration, although the process was delayed because the title of the project then was ‘Procurement of Relocation Site’ which, she said, was difficult to be processed. Later, the municipality and the province joined forces to do something for the release of the assistance.
“Ti problema gamin, ti project title ket ‘Procurement of Relocation Site’ su nga narigat ti process na ket nadel-delay tattan binaliwan da recently ti project title from procurement to financial assistance,” stated the MDRRMO.
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