ITOGON, Benguet, — Help continues to pour in for the typhoon- affected municipality of Itogon and other victims in the Cordillera, this time thru Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Sherwin Gatchalian.
The two, together with National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. turned over a P10 million check for the acquisition of a property that will be developed as a resettlement area for families affected by the landslide in Sitio 070 in barangays Ucab and those living in the danger zones in the other barangays.
The officials also signed a memorandum of agreement for the resettlement assistance program with Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan and other municipal and barangay officials in front of more than 500 individuals who were present during the turnover ceremony.
The NHA earlier turned over P10M as financial assistance to the Itogon municipal government for the purchase of construction materials for those affected by typhoon Ompong.
Ejercito also turned over P1M aid to the Itogon LGU from the San Juan City government in behalf of his mother, Mayor Guia Gomez. Itogon and San Juan City have sisterhood ties.
Gatchalian and Valenzuela Vice Mayor Laurie Natividad Borja, meanwhile, turned over P3 million from the Valenzuela City government to the Itogon LGU and the other victims of typhoon Ompong. P500, 000.00 goes to the Itogon municipal government as financial assistance while the P2.5 million is for the family members and relatives of those who perished and are still missing due to Ompong in the Cordillera.
Ejercito and Gatchalian vowed to provide more support thru the different line agencies, private institutions and their fellow lawmakers.
Ejercito said they will closely work with the Department of Education and other partners for the immediate repair of damaged schools and relocation of at least eight schools located in critical or danger zones in the municipality as recommended by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Earlier, the Mandaluyong City government thru Mayor Menchie Abalos came to provide assistance to the municipality of Itogon including relief goods and livelihood and employment for the people of Itogon.
At least 113 people died in the Cordillera region due to typhoon Ompong, mostly in the massive landslide in Ucab in this town. Until now, seven individuals are still missing, two in Baguio City and five in Itogon. **PIA-CAR
