President Benigno S. Aquino III and his cabinet members commemorated the 28th year of the EDSA Revolution with the survivors of the super typhoon Yolanda in Tanauan and Tacloban City, Leyte, to show the government’s continued and unfailing support to the people.
Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries excited to have a new home
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries who were displaced by Typhoon Yolanda look forward to moving in the permanent relocation site in Brgy. Pago, Tanauan, Leyte. In his visit in the area, Aquino inspected the bunkhouses in the barangay.
Many of the residents identified as recipients of the bunkhouses are CCT members. Jocelyn de Leon, a Pantawid Pamilya parent leader, shared that she and her family are happy that they will soon have a place they can call home after the typhoon washed out their house. “Masaya kami na ang pamilya namin ay isa sa mga mabibigyan ng bahay dito sa relocation site. Sa tingin ko mas magiging safe kami dito. (We are happy that we will be given a house here in the relocation site. I think we will be safe here.),” said the 34-year old mother of four.
Jocelyn’s old house was only about two meters away from the sea. It was one of the properties easily destroyed when the super typhoon made a landfall on November 8 last year.
Rachel Garcia, also a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, expressed her gratitude as one of the recipients of a bunkhouse in Brgy. Pago. Her family now lives in a tent house in Brgy. Canramos where a number of families who used to live in the 40-meter no-build-zone areas temporarily stay.
“Sana makalipat na kami para mas maging maayos na ang tutulugan ng mga bata. Magkakaroon din daw ng basketball court at kuryente at tubig. Excited na kami na maturn-over ang mga bahay. (I hope we can move soon so the kids will have a better place to sleep. They said the relocation site will have a basketball court, electricity, and water. We are excited to have the houses turned over to us.),” said Rachel.
Aquino led the signing of an agreement for building resettlement areas with officials from the National Housing Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Gawad Kalinga, and Tanauan Local Government Unit. He was also at the groundbreaking of the rehabilitation of Tanauan Public Plaza.
In his speech, Aquino lauded the resiliency of Yolanda victims. “Kahit sino makausap ko maraming humahanga sa resiliency ng mga Pilipino… Sa kanila (Yolanda victims) tayo kumukuha ng inspirasyon sa mga hamon sa buhay. (A lot of people admire the resiliency of Filipinos… We get inspiration to face life’s challenges from Yolanda victims.),” he said.
Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson shared that the first 50 bunkhouses will be ready for turnover by August.
After visiting Tanauan, the president went to Brgy. Cabalawan in Tacloban City for the groundbreaking of the new Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, a facility envisioned to provide top-rate medical services in the region.
“Gusto naming makita ng Presidente na nagsusumikap kaming makabangon”
While the president was unable to visit Guiuan, there were more than 3,000 individuals participated in the short program prepared for the celebration of EDSA Anniversary. Mayor Christopher Sheen led the event where he announced that Php 17.5 million has been allotted for Cash for Work beneficiaries in the area.
Aida Cabaguing, 59 years old, a resident of Brgy. Surok and mother of three children expressed, “Gusto sana naming bumisita dito sa Guiuan ang Presidente nang makita niya na nagsusumikap kaming makabangon at ipagpatuloy and buhay mula sa trahedya ng bagyong Yolanda. Pero naiintindihan po namin kung bakit hindi siya natuloy (We hoped that the President could visit Guiuan so he will see how we are striving to rise again and rebuild our lives after the tragedy brought by typhoon Yolanda. But we understand why he was unable to).”
Aida, a partner beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, who availed of the Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program, shared how grateful she is to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “Katapos ng bagyo, nawala sa amin lahat kaya ang sama-sama ng loob ko. Paano na kami? Pero dahil sa tulong ng DSWD, nagkaroon kami ng pag-asa, mas nagging matatag kami (After the typhoon, we lost everything. That is why I felt devastated. What will happen to us? But because of all the help rendered to us by DSWD, we have gained hope, we became much stronger),” she said.
“Wala kaming pera at mahirap makahanap ng pagkukunan ng income dahil wala ng mga niyogan, kaya napakalaking tulong ng mga relief goods at ng ipinamigay na yero. Dahil naman sa Pantawid, nagkaroon kami ng cash grants na ipinambili ng mga damit at school supplies ng aking mga anak kaya tuloy ang pag-aaral nila. Lubos din po ang kasiyahan at pasasalamat ko sa DSWD dahil napili akong benepisyaryo ng CFW, malaking tulong po ito para sa aming pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan (We had no money and it has been difficult to look for source of income especially that the coconut trees are gone. That is why the relief goods and the GI sheets were a big help to us. Then because of Pantawid, we received cash grants which we used to buy clothes and school supplies for the children so they can continue their schooling. We became even more blissful after being identified as one of the beneficiaries of the CFW, this is a huge help for our daily needs),” Aida added.
Department of Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala who was at the event assured the crowd that their messages of gratitude and love will surely reach the president. He also brightened the mood of the crowd by emphasizing that the president wants everyone to be a part of the country’s progress, especially the farmers and fishermen. In addition, he said that P73 million is allocated for Eastern Samar for its rehabilitation efforts. DA is also giving out seeds and high-value crops like corn and coffee, fertilizers, livestock, and boats to farmers who lost their livelihood due to the typhoon. ###