The government has moved swiftly in the wake of Typhoon Tino’s devastating impact on the Visayas and parts of Mindanao, announcing that the Office of the President (OP) will release ₱760 million in cash assistance to local government units (LGUs) affected by the storm.
The allocation was disclosed by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, who said that the President has approved the move as part of efforts to ensure rapid recovery in communities battered by the typhoon.
Among the hardest‐hit provinces, six will each receive ₱50 million: Cebu, Capiz, Surigao del Norte, Iloilo, Bohol and Negros Occidental.
The next five provinces, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Samar will receive ₱40 million.
Antique and Aklan will also receive ₱40 million each. Leyte and Masbate will get ₱30 million each; Guimaras, Agusan del Norte and Dinagat Islands will receive ₱20 million apiece; while Biliran, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Misamis Oriental, Negros Oriental and Palawan will each get ₱10 million.
A further set of provinces and cities, including Albay, Batangas, Siquijor, Quezon, the City of Manila, Laguna, Zamboanga City, Camiguin, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga del Norte and Romblon, will receive ₱5 million each.
President Marcos Jr. has also declared a “state of national calamity” in response to Typhoon Tino’s broad impact covering up to ten to twelve regions which triggers faster mobilization of emergency funds and simplified procedures for relief and rehabilitation.
“If the scope is wide… then it is a national calamity… that gives us quicker access to some of the emergency funds,” he stated in a briefing.
Undersecretary Castro emphasized that the allocation is intended to assist the affected LGUs in immediate recovery, restoration and relief efforts.
She noted that the government has not yet requested foreign assistance, citing that current resources remain sufficient for the present stage of the disaster response.
The release of the funds comes amid grim assessments of Typhoon Tino’s toll: major flooding, displaced families, infrastructure damage and numerous missing persons have been reported across the regions.
The prompt financial response signals the administration’s resolve to ensure the storm affected communities, particularly in Region VIII, are reached and aided without undue delay.
As local governments await the disbursement and deployment of the funds, the public is urged to monitor how the assistance will be utilized on the ground to ensure that aid reaches those in need and supports long term recovery, not just immediate relief.
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