The Office of the President has released P760 million in direct aid to provinces and cities affected by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi), Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.
Below is the breakdown of the dispensed funds, as enumerated by Castro in a briefing:
P50 million
Cebu, Capiz, Surigao del Norte, Iloilo, Bohol, Negros Occidental
P40 million
Eastern Samar, Surigao del Sur, Southern Leyte, Antique, Aklan
P30 million
Leyte, Masbate
P20 million
Guimaras, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands
P10 million
Biliran, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Misamis Oriental, Negros Oriental, Palawan
P5 million
Albay, Batangas, Northern Samar, Siquijor, Quezon, Samar, Agusan del Sur, Laguna, Zamboanga City, Camiguin, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Iligan City, Romblon, City of Manila
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a national state of calamity across the Philippines due to the onslaught of Typhoon Tino and the anticipated impact of the potential Super Typhoon Uwan.
‘This was done after the typhoon affected 10 to 12 regions. This declaration is also important to allow faster access to the government’s emergency funds and to speed up the procurement of supplies needed by the typhoon victims,’ Castro explained.
The proclamation of a national calamity will enable government agencies to draw from emergency funds and fast-track the procurement of essential goods and services for typhoon victims.
As of Thursday morning, the reported death toll from Typhoon Tino rose to 114 in Cebu province alone, according to Office of Civil Defense Deputy Spokesperson Diego Mariano.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said that the likelihood of a super typhoon making landfall on Saturday over the Philippine landmass ‘is becoming more likely.’