ANGARA TO HOUSING AGENCIES: ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS FOR ONDOY VICTIMS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara is calling on housing agencies and relevant social development arms of the government to increase assistance to the victims of Typhoon Ondoy, and urged them to intensify campaigns for such information drive.

"This is a crucial time for Filipinos. Beyond helping them recover what they lost to the storm and the floods, we need to re-instill in them a sense of hope and unity from those among us who can extend help," Angara urged yesterday at the Budget Hearing of various Housing Agencies in the Senate.

In the wake of the havoc wrought by Typhoon Ondoy that claimed 246 lives, displaced hundreds of thousands of residents and damaged billions' worth of properties in Manila and surrounding provinces, Angara asked the agencies present to allocate funding for relief and rescue efforts. He asked the housing agencies to, "Dedicate a calamity fund for reconstruction. Earmark a priority for calamity assistance purposes in your budget proposals."

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig) has now committed P3.0 Billion of funds for calamity assistance; P4.0 B from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); and P3.0 B from the Social Security System (SSS). At the request of Angara, SSS President Romulo Neri, who was not present at the hearing, was placed on phone patch for the request and instantly agreed to release P3.0 B worth of salary and housing loans to members for rehabilitative efforts.

Angara chairs the Senate Committee on Finance and since the budget hearings resumed Monday, 28 September?fresh from the tragedy of Typhoon Ondoy?he has stressed among various government agencies to allocate calamity and relief assistance funds for the typhoon victims.

Angara also requested the housing agency representatives present to "be prepared to publish the schedule of interest rates and payment schemes, application and processing centers, and a hotline contact number to properly address requests from people who are in dire need of assistance."