The distribution was done at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office where a lady vegetable vendor expressed elation that the lady governor include rice in giving assistance to them. She said that the 15 kilos is already a big help to her family because for several days, she can abstain from buying rice.

Governor Cerilles in vernacular told the fire victims: “Gamay lamang kini kung itandi sa nawala kaninyo, apan ang labing mahinungdanon nga bisan luyo sa kanihit sa atong panalapi sa lalawigan, nanlimbasog gayud ako nga makahatag ug hinabang aron bisan sa yano nga paagi akong mapaabot kaninyo ang pagpakabana ug pagtagad sa atong Pangagamhanan sa Probinsiya.”

“Gibati ko ang kapait nga inyong gibati, ilabi na niining panahon nga kita nag-atubang sa ekonomikanhong mga suliran,” Cerilles empathized after she acknowledged them through their respective presidents. Various vendors association present were: Lucia Cadiong of the Vegetables and Spices Association; Cecile Aljas of Pagadian United Vegetables and Spices Cooperative; Alice Duhaylungsod – Dry Goods, Cosmetics Vendors; Marina Sabate – Dried and Salted Fish Vendors; Cristino Bacat – Tobacco Vendors Multi-purpose cooperative; Hussin Palahuddin – Jolo Ukay-ukay Vendors, Hadji Sammy Saman of Muslim-Christian drygoods and Sangcadra Dimasar of the Fresh Fish Vendors was not around.

One by one, the governor handed over her financial assistance to the victims where one vendor even received P3,500 cash plus 105 kilos of NFA rice as he was identified to have 7 stalls at the devastated public market.

According to Melanie Aragon, chief of Emergency Assistance Program of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office they secured a copy of the master list of victims from the City Government.

All in all, Aragon said the provincial government released almost P600-T for the Agora fire victims including the monetary equivalent of the NFA rice given away at P18.25 a kilo.

Aragon disclosed that a month ago, their office also assisted Congressman Victor in the distribution of his own financial assistance to the victims.

From the city government, a 56 year-old tobacco vendor bared that the amount given to them also vary depending on the amount of stocks lost to fire. Some received P700; others also received over P3,000, he said.

Of the 745 vendors, majority were not the original stall owners but only renters. Although, it was already decided during the City Disaster Coordinating Council meeting presided by City Mayor Sammy Co that the actual occupants or renters will be the ones to receive the assistance but as the distribution was going on, there were stalls with two claimants both the renter and the rentee.

In the distribution, Aragon admitted they encountered problems like this, but they stick to the master list provided by the City Government.

To resolve the issue in a win-win scenario, DSWD provincial office would advise both claimants to agree as to who would receive the financial assistance to include NFA rice.

Last update : 09-07-2008 14:21

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