City to give P1-M aid to Batanes

THE CITY Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has sought the approval of the City Council for the release of P1 Million

as financial assistance to earthquake-hit Itbayat, an island town in Batanes.

Alfredo Baloran, CDRRMO head, said the aid is needed in Itbayat, the country’s northernmost municipality, which “incurred severe damage to infrastructures and properties.”

Based on the recent data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the two earthquakes severely hit four barangays, damaging 180 houses and affecting 1,025 families affected with 2,968 individuals. Ninety families with 295 persons are still staying at the municipal plaza.

Based on the reports, eight people were killed while dozens were injured when two earthquakes -magnitude 5.4 and magnitude 5.9 just hours in between -- struck Batanes on July 27, causing damage to homes and structures.

In Baloran’s letter addressed to City Administrator Zuleika Lopez, the P1 million will be given to the provincial government of Batanes that will provide assistance to the municipality of Itbayat.

Baloran said he will personally fly to Itbayat to deliver the assistance.

“Once approved, the mayor instructed to have the assistance delivered immediately,” said Baloran.

The budget will come from the 2019 Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the city.