(Eagle News)–Families affected by the Taal eruption should receive ₱30,000 in cash assistance, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Hontiveros issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to pass a P30-billion supplemental budget for Taal evacuees.
“Mahalagang i-earmark na sa supplemental budget ang direct cash assistance na pwedeng ipamigay sa mga pamilyang apektado. Pwede nang aksyunan ng Pangulo ang para sa cash grants. Gamitin na ang pwedeng gamitin sa current budget. Kailangang mag-realign ang mga Department Secretaries para gawin ito at pupunuin o ibabalik na lang sa pamamagitan ng supplemental budget,” she explained.
She said what the victims of Taal needed was “help” and not a loan.
She said although the amount was not enough, the initial cash aid could be spent on the daily subsistence of families inside and outside of evacuation centers.
“May mga nasa evacuation centers na gustong sumilong sa mga kamag-anak nila na malapit…May mga pamilya namang nasa labas ng evacuation centers pero nawalan ng income. Malaking tulong din sa kanila ito,” she said.
“Habang inaantay natin ang post-disaster assessment, planning at budgeting ng gobyerno, may mga nagkakasakit na, at marami na rin ang nawalan ng hanapbuhay na kailangang tulungan,” she added.
An alert level 4 remains hoisted over Taal as it continued its intense seismic activity.
