Duterte: I am giving P5K per family in Odette-hit areas

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said the government has enough funds to provide a cash aid of P5,000 for each family displaced by Typhoon Odette.

"May pera naman. I am giving P5,000 per family. Itong pera na nakuha ko, which I have gathered, will be sufficient for the assistance of P5,000 for everybody," Duterte said in his weekly Talk to the People.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said a joint circular providing guidelines for the distribution of cash assistance in typhoon-hit areas has been issued.

He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government will distribute around P4 billion worth of cash aid to affected residents.

"Humigit kumulang P4 billion ang pamimigay na ayuda... Ayon sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management), mare-release bukas sa mga LGUs," Año said.

He said aid distribution should be completed in 15 days.

He added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police will help in the cash aid distribution.

Soul-bruising experience

Seeing the vast damage of the typhoon during an aerial inspection and in his visit to affected communities, Duterte described the experience as "soul-bruising."

From the chopper, Duterte said Kabankalan town in Negros Occidental appeared not to sustain too much damage unlike the other areas.

"It was only later when we were informed na sa Sipalay, maraming na-damage, pati tao.  So kayong mga taga-Sipalay, we convey to you our deepest condolences," he said.

"It's soul-bruising experiences for us all," Duterte added.  

He said it is incumbent for the government to act fast so the ravaged areas can go back to normalcy.

Duterte said he plans to return to the damaged areas to see the situation.

"Back up lang ako ng national agencies, but babalikan ko 'yung lugar na tinatamaan," he said.

Rehab and recovery fund

Duterte earlier promised to raise P10 billion for the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the typhoon-affected areas, Malacañang said.

He also said the National Housing Authority would provide P100 million in aid to each of the provinces devastated by Odette.

The President also ordered the military and police to utilize all government assets to support the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the typhoon-ravaged communities.

The death toll from Odette has increased to 389, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

In its latest report, the NDRRMC said 64 people were still missing while 1,146 others were injured.

A total of 1,074, 169 families or 4,204,601 people were affected by the typhoon in MIMAROPA, CARAGA, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Regions, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

It also said a total of 506,404 houses were damaged — 339,327 partially and 167,077 totally damaged — due to Odette. The estimated cost of damaged houses was at 28,163,718.—LDF, GMA News