Governor Daniel Fernando on Thursday called on local officials and fellow Bulakenyos to extend assistance to victims of Typhoon Odette. Fernando made the call as the provincial government of Bulacan initially gave PHP2 million in assistance to areas heavily hit by the typhoon. “Ako po ay kababaang loob na umaapela sa aking mga kababayang Bulakenyo at kapwa ko public servant na tulungan po natin ang ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng bagyong Odette bilang pasasalamat dahil hindi tayo ang nasa kalagayan nila ngayon (I am humbly appealing to our province mates and fellow public servants to help those hit by Typhoon
The Department of Finance (DOF) will draw this week USD80 million (about PHP4 billion) of the World Bank’s (WB) USD500 million standby credit line extended to the Philippines to support the national government’s disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts in provinces devastated by Typhoon Odette. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the WB’s 4th Disaster Risk Management Development Program with a Catastrophic Deferred Drawdown Option (CAT-DDO4) would provide the government immediate access to funds for its ongoing efforts to aid the recovery of “Odette”-hit areas. “This week, the DOF will draw USD80 million from the World Bank disaster financing loan to
No casualties were recorded in Agusan del Norte when Typhoon Odette hit parts of the province on December 16. The zero casualty was indicated in the December 22 situational report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). PDRRMO chief Erma Suyo told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday afternoon that early preparations were undertaken by the local government units (LGUs) in the province before the typhoon made landfall in Mindanao, particularly in Siargao Island. “We convened the local disaster response units from the different LGUs days before the typhoon hit our province,” Suyo said. She added
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon (BFAR-3) on Wednesday turned over some PHP1.9 million worth of equipment to fisherfolk in Bulacan. BFAR-3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz said on Thursday the move is part of the bureau’s continuing efforts to uplift the lives of the marginalized fishermen. “This program is consistent with the bureau’s mission to alleviate the lives of fishermen and acquire food security in the country,” he said in social media post. Cruz said the provisions include gill nets, multi-filament nets, marine engines, fish vending equipment with accessories, among others. The beneficiaries are fishermen from
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has imposed ceilings on interest rates, fees, and penalties for late payments or non-payments for general purpose loans not higher than PHP10,000. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) has set a nominal interest rate ceiling of 6 percent per month, an effective interest rate of maximum of 15 percent per month, and a 5 percent per month penalty for late payment or non-payment. He said the circular for these rates has yet to be published while the implementing rules and regulations will
Typhoon victims should continue observing proper hygiene and sanitation despite the scarcity of resources such as water to prevent an outbreak of diseases, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 on Thursday said. Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH-7 chief pathologist, said pumping and water refilling stations have supply problems as power lines have yet to be restored after being damaged by the typhoon. She said the community needs to watch out for diseases that could crop up, especially in evacuation areas where families are jam-packed in closed areas. The people, she said, should be mindful of
