MAY standby fund umano ang Department of Agriculture (DA) na umaabot ng isang bilyong piso para magamit sa naging epekto ng Bagyong Egay sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa, partikular na sa Northern Luzon.

Iniulat ito ni DA Assistant Sec. Arnel de Mesa, sa pagdinig ng House committee on North Luzon growth quadrangle ukol sa isinasagawang tulong ng gobyerno sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng Bagyong Egay.

Sinabi ni De Mesa, inilabas na ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang P1 billion na Quick Response Fund o QRF, para sa magamit sa epekto ng El Nino at mga bagyo gaya ni Egay na nagpabaha at nagpaguho ng mga lupa sa Northern Luzon.

Sinabihan naman ni Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano ang DA na agad saklolohan ang mga magsasaka na labis na naapektuhan sa bagyong Egay.

Pinakakalma naman ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez ang mga apektado ng bagyo dahil ginagawa naman umano ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., ang kanyang trabaho kahit nasa Malaysia ito noong kasagsagan ng bagyo.

“President Marcos is doing everything he can to assist, help and provide assistance to Super Typhoon Egay victims. We want to make sure that at this time of extreme need, the people should feel that their government is with them,” ani Romualdez.

Ayon sa lider ng Kamara, nakakalap na ang Kamara ng P128.5 million para sa relief operations kung saan P23.5 million umano dito ay mula sa personal calamity fund nito mula sa donasyon ng kanyang mga kaibigan habang ang P105 million ay mula sa Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Ipamamahagi ang pondong ito sa mga sumusunod:

1. Ilocos Norte, 1st District (represented by Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos): P1 million cash assistance, P2 million relief goods (5,000 packs), and P10 million AICS.

2. Ilocos Sur, 2nd District (Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson-Meehan): P1 million cash, P2 million relief goods (5,000 packs), and P10 million AICS.

3. Cagayan, 1st District (Rep. Ramon C. Nolasco Jr.): P2 million cash, P4 million relief goods (10,000 packs), and P20 million AICS.

4. Cagayan, 2nd District (Rep. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso): P1 million cash assistance, P4 million relief goods (10,000 food packs), and P20 million AICS.

5. Ilocos Sur, 1st District (Rep. Ronald V. Singson): P5 million AICS.

6. Cagayan, 3rd District (Rep. Joseph “Jojo” L. Lara): P1 million cash, P1 million in relief goods (2,500 food packs), and P10 million AICS.

7. Benguet, Lone District (Rep. Eric Go Yap): P10 million in AICS, P500,000 in cash assistance, and P1 million worth of relief goods (2,500 food packs).

8. Baguio City (Rep. Mark O. Go): P500,000 cash, P1 million in relief goods (2,500 food packs), and P10 million in AICS.

9. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” B. Magalong: P500,000 cash assistance, P1 million relief goods (1,250 food packs), and P10 million AICS. (BERNARD TAGUINOD)