Thursday, July 24, 2008

PDCC To Validate Damage Report

Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez expressed the need of the Provincial Disaster Coordination Council (PDCC) to validate its report on the damages wrought by Typhoon Frank which brutally struck Aklan June 21. Gov. Marquez chairs the Aklan PDCC.
“There is a need to validate the reports submitted by the different towns in the province. For reported deaths, for example, it must be made sure that the death was typhoon-related. Names of owners of houses which were partially or totally – damaged must also be ascertained, so that when government aid comes in the form of rehabilitation of these houses, rightful recipients will be benefited,” said Governor Marquez during the recent meeting of the PDCC held at the Conference Room of the Provincial Guest House, Provincial Capitol, Kalibo, Aklan.
The need to validate the typhoon damage report was further stressed by Governor Marquez, citing the case of a town whose number of affected persons was more than its total population based on the released National Statistics Office (NSO) Census of Population of 2007.
For his part, Aklan Police Provincial Office Provincial Director, Police Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr., Vice Chairperson of PDCC said the council needs accurate and reliable data as far as extension of assistance is concerned.
“The PDCC needs the full support of line agencies. We must be specific and accurate in reporting the number of casualties”, PSSupt. Durana stressed.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Elma Malbas said that currently, MSWDOs are validating reports in their respective municipalities down to barangays, and cited Friday, July 11, as the self-imposed deadline of her office to come out with the validated final damage report.
The PSWDO in Aklan and personnel of DSWD Field Office 6 based in Aklan were augmented by DSWD forces from Regions 10 and 11, days after the typhoon. DSWD 6 also sent to Aklan Asst. Regional Director Joel Galicia to assist in the relief operations, as well as other staff from Iloilo, Capiz and Negros Occidental.
DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral also visited Aklan first week after the typhoon.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also came to Aklan to bring and distribute relief assistance for two days in a row on July 1 and 2, a gesture which many Aklanons said was very rare and surprising, and the first time for the country’s Chief Executive to do for Aklan.
At the PDCC recent meeting, Governor Marquez took the opportunity to thank heads of offices of Aklan for the help extended to the province as well as non-government organizations, institutions, local government units outside the province and private individuals who gave donations in cash or in kind. (by Venus G. Villanueva) /MP

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