Press Release
February 19, 2006
Drilon allocates P20 million for rescue and relief operations in
Leyte
Senate President and Liberal Party head Franklin Drilon today
disclosed he was allocating P20 million of his Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) to finance rescue and relief operations in
Saint Bernard town, Leyte province where thousands of residents were
reported buried in mud due to a landslide.
Drilon said he was directing the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) to release P20 million of his PDAF to the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) to augment efforts to help the
landslide victims.
We share the grief of the victims of the landslide, Drilon said.
I have decided to allocate part of my PDAF to help finance the
immediate rescue operations and to provide assistance to those who
survived the tragedy, Drilon said.
As of Sunday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)
revealed that foreign and local assistance were pouring in for the
Leyte landslide victims.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has mobilized hundreds of its
men and its air and sea assets for rescue and relief efforts, the
NDCC said. The US government will deploy 1,000 Marines, two
battleships, and 17 helicopters to assist in relief efforts.
The United Nations has donated P2.5 million, fast-food giant Mc
Donald's P90,000 worth of rice, the United States Agency for
International Development P2.9 million in food and non-food items,
and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) P152,000 worth of
medicines, the NDCC said. Taiwan has pledged $100,000 to the
Philippines for the relief efforts.
The Department of Health has readied for distribution P2.3 million
worth of medicines, cadaver bags, and lime to preserve dead bodies.
The DSWD will distribute P210,000 worth of relief goods. |