LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The families of the victims of typhoon “Ompong” in Baguio and Benguet received PHP20,000 each from the Office of the President’s social fund.
This is aside from the PHP25,000 financial assistance and burial aid each of the victims' families got from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera (DSWD-CAR).
DSWD-CAR regional director Janet Armas told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday that the distribution of the aid has started.
DSWD-CAR is giving PHP25,000 financial aid for transportation and food for each victim.
Some of the cash from the President's social fund was handed to the victims' families by President Rodrigo Duterte himself when he met with them on Monday.
"We are communicating with the different funeral parlors. We also provide transportation assistance for the cadavers that are being transported to other provinces," Armas said.
She added the provincial hospitals have also committed to give free medical attention to those injured in the calamity.
Armas said her department will also be coordinating with other government agencies to aid the victims.
Aside from DSWD and OP, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) also released a financial assistance of PHP20,000 each to the victims' families.
Itogon town in Benguet province suffered numerous casualties in a major landslide in Barangay Ucab, where about 50 persons are believed to have been buried in tons of soil.
As of the local government's briefing with Duterte on Monday, 54 were reported dead, 70 injured, and 49 missing after the onslaught of super-typhoon "Ompong." (PNA)
