Amas, Kidapawan City- The Provincial Government of Cotabato (PGCot) distributed the financial assistance to the families of eight missing individuals during the 2019 series of earthquakes in Cotabato Province.
The said families received a total of Php200,000 cash assistance (Php25, 000 each) from the provincial government charge to Local Government of Ifugao cash donations and 1 sack of rice from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
Mrs. Virgilia A. Lamar mother of one of the missing individual Jonathan A. Lamar, 27 years old of Barangay Luna Norte, Makilala who went missing after the October 29, 2019 earthquake emotionally expressed her gratefulness to Cotabato Governor Nancy A. Catamco during the distribution of financial assistance at the Provincial Governor’s Office, Amas, Kidapawan City on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
According to Mrs. Lamar, his son Jonathan is a banana plantation worker who went to work that day in Barangay Bato, Makilala, Cotabato.
“Kada Martes schedule gyud sa akong anak mag-adto sa iyahang ginatrabahuan sa Barangay Bato aron magbalot ug saging. Ug katong October 29 nabal-an na lang namo sa iyang kauban sa sagingan nga natabunan daw siya sa nag lanslide na bato ug yuta human sa makusog nga linog,” she said.
Governor Catamco personally handed over the said assistance and sympathizes with the family.
“Nasubo usab kami kauban ninyo sa pagkawala sa inyong mahal sa kinabuhi. I know it’s not easy for you to cope with the loss of your loved ones, but what is important now is we are still here and we keep on moving and living for those people who also depend on us,” the governor stressed.
Last year, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division distributed a total of Php29, 780,000 (10K each) assistance to 2,978 families which houses are situated in high risk areas and Php15M assistance for the 1,472 families whose houses are partially and totally damaged.
“We are still distributing the financial assistance for other earthquake victims. Despite of delays due to meticulous processing of papers and documents, the provincial government is working very hard to also address the needs of our people severely affected by the said earthquake the soonest possible time,” PDRRMD Head Mercedita Foronda said.//pgo-idcd//
