DOLE: P128M released to aid Abra quake victims

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Thursday it has released over P128 million to assist those affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake that jolted northern Luzon last month.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the total of P128,908.073.54 disbursed has benefitted 16,526 victims of the tremor.

“The bulk of the assistance or over P57 million was mainly coursed through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Distressed Workers or TUPAD,” Laguesma said.

TUPAD is DOLE’s cash for work program used for disaster response.

“The remaining part of the fund went to financing our continuing programs such as skills training, government internship program, livelihood and AKAP,” he said.

The DOLE’s AKAP is a one-time financial aid given to returning overseas Filipino workers affected by a crisis.

Among the continuing programs is the joint training-cum-production and emergency employment program of DOLE and TESDA for the pool of workers to do rehabilitation works on damaged infrastructure and heritage structures, Laguesma said.

The Labor chief said areas covered by the aid program were Region 1 in Ilocos, Region 2 in Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

He said Ilocos Region got the highest assistance worth more than P72 million which benefitted 7,300 victims while CAR which hosts Abra – the epicenter of the quake – received over P55 million to support 9,190 quake-hit residents.

On the other hand, more than P200,000 in assistance was given to Cagayan Valley with 36 beneficiaries, he added.

Laguesma said DOLE is continuously monitoring developments in Northern Luzon so it can determine the response it can deliver to the needy provinces.

“Our instruction from the President is very clear and that is to help our countrymen recover from the tragedy. We are sending help to the affected regions as fast as we can,” he said. 

The July 27 earthquake was located at 17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum in Abra and had a depth of 17 kilometers, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

It was felt strongly in many areas in Luzon, including in Metro Manila. — RSJ, GMA News