LAUA-AN, Antique-Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman lauded the Local Government of Antique for its preparedness and resiliency in confronting typhoon Yolanda during her recent visit in the area.
“Una po ay pagbati mula sa nasyonal na pamalaaan, mula sa Pangulong Pnoy, dahil ang Antique bagamat dinaanan ni Yolanda, kayo po ang isa sa mga lugar na kakaunti ang nasawi bagamat malakas din ang daan ni Yolanda dito . Siyam o sampu lang ang namatay sa Antique kasi kayo ay organisado, handa at nagkakaisa (First is greetings from the national government, from President Pnoy, because while Antique has been ravaged by Yolanda, you’re one of the localities with minimal casualties, despite the fact that Yolanda also lashed intensely here. You only had nine or ten casualties because you were organized, prepared and united),” said Secretary Soliman.
The northern portion of Antique province suffered much of the devastation of Yolanda. These are the coastal towns of Laua-an, Barbaza and Tibiao. Latest report shows that there were 59,250 families composed of 249,909 individuals affected in Antique province.
Totally damaged houses reached 14,711 and partially damaged houses numbered to 32,253.
“Marami po ang binigyan ng impormasyon na dapat lumikas o mag evacuate, kailangang maghanda. Merong sumunod at merong ding hindi sumunod at ang Antique ay isa sa pinaka organisado kung kaya ang casualty nyo ay napakababa kaya binabati ko po kayo at sa pagbati na iyan ay kasama ang paghanga dahil sa liderato ng probinsya at lokal na pamahalaan at ninyong mga mamamayan na nakiisa at mismong kumilos kayo ay nakapagsalba ng maraming buhay (There were many who were informed to evacuate and to prepare. There were those who obeyed and there were others who did not and Antique was one of the most organized; the reason why you had low number of casualties hence my congratulations with appreciation; because of the leadership in the province and local government and you the people who united and acted and contributed to the saving of many lives),” Sec. Soliman added.
Sec. Soliman visited the municipality, met with Governor Exequiel Javier, Mayor Francisco Baladjay, Jr. and Vice Mayor Aser Baladjay, graced the conduct of a Family Development Session (FDS) for beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, observed the Municipal Action Team (MAT) meeting and graced the blessing and inauguration of a day care center and core shelter units in Barangay Liya-Liya.
RESILIENCY
Sec. Soliman also commended the provincial government and the locality of Laua-an for immediately responding to the needs of survivors.
Governor Javier disclosed that they have already distributed G.I. sheets to the survivors in the Province. Laua-an Mayor Baladjay also revealed that they spent their IRA for the repair of their municipal hall.
“Nakikitang naming modelo ang nangyari dito at nais ko pong ikwento ito sa maraming mga tao. Forty four provinces po ang dinaanan ni Yolanda. At napakagandang malaman lalong lalo na ng ibang lugar dito sa Pilipinas na ang isang probinsya tulad ng Antique na naghanda at naging masinop sa kanilang evacuation and disaster preparedness ay nakapagsalba ng maraming buhay kaya siyam o sampu lang ang casualties. Napakagandang malaman iyan ng maraming tao na kung may mangyari na mala-Yolanda ay ito ang matutularan (What happened here is a model which I want to tell many people. Forty four provinces were hit by Yolanda. And it would be good to let other places in the country that there are provinces like Antique that readied itself and effectively implemented evacuation and disaster preparedness hence saving many lives, thus you only had around nine or ten casualties. It would be great if many people learn so that when something happens that’s as big as Yolanda, they would replicate what you did,” she said.
EMERGENCY SHELTER ASSISTANCE
Sec. Soliman also revealed that the agency is augmenting the LGU’s efforts through releasing Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for those with partially damaged and totally damaged houses amounting to P10,000 each.
“Ang pambasang pamahalaan ay handang tumulong sa ginagawa nang pagbangon ninyo. Sa sariling sikap, pera ng munisipyo at probinsya, kayo ay unti unti nang nagtatayo muli at nakapagbigay nang bubong at kami sa DSWD ay tatapatan namin yan. Magbibigay kami ng P10,000 bawat pamilya na may totally damaged at partially damaged houses. Gusto po ng Pangulong Aquino na bago ang tag-ulan ay may bubong na kayo na maayos at hindi trapal lang (The national government is willing to help in your recovery. With your own efforts, resources from the municipality and province, you have gradually erected houses and provided roof and we at DSWD will give our counterpart. We will provide P10,000 for each family with totally damaged and partially damaged houses. President Aquino wants that before the rainy season, you will already have fixed roofs instead of tents,” said Soliman.
She also vowed to release cash for work assistance so that they will be able to provide for their families while their houses are constructed./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo