By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos led government agencies on Friday in providing assistance to disaster-hit Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the town’s long-term recovery.
At least 14 agencies delivered various assistance and services, including temporary shelters, cash-for-work opportunities, farm inputs, skills training, classrooms, medical services, and internet connectivity.
Sec. Abalos said President Marcos Jr. ordered a whole-of-government approach to speed up recovery for disaster-hit families as they rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
“Kung titingnan ninyo, ito na ’yung sustainability. Kasi nagawa na ’yon,” he said.
“Sabi na nga ng Pangulo, ‘Sige, Benhur, ’yung whole of government, ayusin mo sa iba’t ibang departamento para ipakita natin ang pagmamahal ng gobyerno sa mga taga-Jose Abad Santos.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided additional cash assistance to earthquake-affected families, in addition to assistance previously extended through the Emergency Cash Transfer and Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport programs.
The Department of Labor and Employment provided Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers cash-for-work opportunities to residents with damaged homes, while Technical Education and Skills Development Authority offered livelihood training for farmers and fisherfolk.
The Department of Trade and Industry will help package and market products developed through livelihood training.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development committed 100 modular shelter units, while the National Housing Authority provided cash assistance to families whose homes were totally damaged.
The Department of Education (DepEd) provided Learning Continuity Spaces to serve as temporary classrooms.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, continued addressing medical needs in tent cities and helping provide sanitation facilities.
The Department of Agriculture provided animals, seeds, and seedlings, while the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) distributed food and non-food assistance to 1,200 coconut farmers.
Each PCA food package included 25 kilos of rice, sugar, coffee, noodles, canned goods, milk and chocolate drink.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources committed timber that could be used to rebuild homes, while the Mines and Geosciences Bureau is assessing possible relocation sites.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continued clearing rivers and roads, while the Department of Information and Communications Technology provided Starlink internet connectivity to selected affected communities.
This was the second time concerned government agencies visited areas affected by the earthquake and typhoon in Jose Abad Santos.
In July, Abalos, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara assessed the damage from flash floods and the aftermath of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake and oversaw relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Abalos said the government plans to visit other towns, such as Glan and Malapatan in Sarangani province, to assess their needs.
“This will now be for sustainability, for job, for work. Of course, for housing, for agriculture,” he said. “Kung ano mang opportunities, kung ano mang mayroon na programa ang gobyerno, ibababa po natin ’yan.”
