PNoy turns over P5.7-M for cash for work in NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- During his Feb. 8 visit to quake-hit Negros Oriental, Pres. Benigno Aquino III turned over a check worth P5.7 million to Gov. Roel Degamo for the cash for work program to assist families displaced by recent earthquake in the province.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Dinky Soliman said the financial aid aims to help the victims get cash in exchange for cleaning up the rubbles and premises in the quake's aftermath.
Sec. Soliman said Guihulngan City, the hardest hit area, and La Libertad town received its cash for work assistance separately in the amounts of P3.3 million and P1.3 million, respectively.
The check from the president is for other affected municipalities of Tayasan, Jimalalud and other neighboring towns.
Also, the DSWD has so far provided P2.5 million worth of relief assistance which include food, mats, blankets, tents, batteries, and 20 units of generators.
Evacuees who will participate in the cash-for-work program will also provide support for the repair and reconstructions of roads, bridges and public buildings. (rmn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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NGCP restores power in La Libertad, Jimalalud
but schedules power interruptions in parts of NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- As of 9 a.m. today, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has restored power in portions of La Libertad and Jimalalud thru its Bindoy substation. These were the earthquake affected towns.
The NGCP line crew continues to bring segments of lightweight steel towers to accessible locations for helicopter hauling later on, according to an NGCP advisory.
The NGCP also announced scheduled shutdown of some of its transmission facilities in areas under the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II (NORECOII) for maintenance purposes.
The power interruption is set on February 12, Sunday at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. along the Dumaguete-Siaton 69kV transmission line.
Visayas Corporation Communication Officer Elmer Cruz of NGCP said normal operations will immediately be restored after the maintenance work has been completed.
NGCP’s customers and the general public are advised to take the necessary preparations and precautions for this scheduled interruption.
Cruz said specific cities and municipalities to be affected by the power interruption are determined by the distribution utility, NORECO II, unless the activity affects the entire franchise area.
The Noreco II allots the available power within its franchise area and implements the power interruption schedule among the end-users, said Cruz. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)
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P33 B needed for infra damaged by Sendong and Feb 6 quake
By Jennifer C. Tilos
NEGROS ORIENTAL, Dumaguete City, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- The total cost of repairs to damaged bridges in the province brought by Sendong and the recent earthquake will amount to P33 billion, according to Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson.
In a National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting held recently with President Benigno Aquino III in Dumaguete City, Singson reported that of the total 13 bridges damaged, three had collapsed completely.
The three bridges totally damage occurred in barangay Martilo, La Libertad; Pangaluan, Jimalalud; and Tinayonan, Guihulngan, Singson said during an NDRRMC meeting here.
The teams checked the national roads and bridges including public buildings on its structural integrity and stability in preparation for the rehabilitation of infrastructures enough to withstand high-magnitude earthquakes.
Secretary Singson ordered that immediate restoration works be initiated immediately to open up the impassable national roads to traffic.
Singson also ordered DPWH field engineers and maintenance crew to install temporary bridges and footbridges while replacing other damaged roads and bridges in the areas of Guihulngan, Jimalalud, Ayungon, and Tayasan. (mbcn/jct/PIA)
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GSIS grants emergency loan to quake-hit members in NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) approved the granting of emergency loans for members in Negros Oriental who were affected by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit the province on Feb. 6.
“We are looking at more than 8,000 members who are eligible under the Emergency Loan Program and we have allocated P164 billion for them,” said GSIS President and General Manager Robert Vergara.
Qualified members can avail of the P20,000 emergency loan from Feb. 8 to March 9 in any of the 11 GSIS kiosks deployed throughout Negros Oriental using either their Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card or temporary card.
The kiosks are located in the following areas: Provincial Capitol; Department of Education, Capitol Area; GSIS Dumaguete Office; Bayawan City Hall; Bais City Hall; Guinhulngan City Hall; Canlaon City Hall; Tanjay City Hall; and Siaton City Hall.
Members who do not have a UMID Card but who are eligible to apply for the loan can apply over-the-counter (OTC) at the GSIS Dumaguete Branch office.
Members who can avail of the loan are the following: bona fide employees of the agency located in the calamity area or residents of the calamity area; in active service and not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending criminal or administrative charges; have no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions; and have no loan that has been declared in default.
Also, the agency of the member-applicant must not be suspended because of non-payment and non-remittance of premiums and loans.
The pension fund has reduced the interest rate for its emergency loan from eight percent to six percent and would no longer charge a one percent service fee for the loan. It has also extended the payment of the first amortization from one month to three months.
“This is part of the current effort of the Board and Management to make our policies and programs more responsive to our members, particularly in times of adversity,” Vergara said.
For more details about the Emergency Loan Program, members may visit the GSIS Dumaguete Branch Office, National Highway, Daro, Dumaguete City, telephone number (035) 225.0370. (PIA/JCT)
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DSWD7 accepting donations for NegOr
By Jennifer C. Tilos
NEGROS ORIENTAL, Dumaguete City, Feb. 9 (PIA) The -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in Central Visayas has set up a donation desk to receive donations for families affected by the recent earthquake.
DSWD Information Officer Aileen Lariba said an estimated 10,155 families were affected and 175 dead brought by an earthquake occurred on February 6.
A 24-hour quick response operation is in place to accept donations at the DSWD7 regional office, corner M.J. Cuenco Avenue, General Maxilom Avenue Extension, Cebu City.
Another set of relief goods are already on its way to affected areas of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Ayungon and Tayasan but as numbers of victims’ rises, so does their needs such as mats, tents, potable water, food, clothing, among others, said Lariba.
DSWD-7 has also set an earthquake hotline number at telephone number (032) 2321192 or 0197-381-5555 for any assistance and for more information.
In the same development, Negros Oriental governorNegOr Gov Roel Degamo leads the team from Dumaguete City this morning to bring the relief goods to the affected areas.
Meanwhile Some 400 soldiers of the 302nd Brigade continues to conduct search & inspection operations in different places in NegOr. It is estimated that almost P632 million cost of damaged to infrastructures brought by the earthquake. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)