DILG to 48 LGUs: Explain slow Odette aid

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-eight local government units (LGUs) have been asked to explain the slow distribution of financial assistance to victims of Typhoon Odette.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said show cause orders were issued to concerned local chief executives, three of them in Mimaropa, 16 in Western Visayas, 13 in Central Visayas and 18 in Eastern Visayas.

“Pagpapaliwanagin natin ang mga LGUs na ito. Bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin natatapos ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa ating mga kababayan?” Año said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said more than four million typhoon victims have received cash assistance from the government.

Año said P4.15 billion or about 85 percent of the P4.8 billion allotted for cash assistance has been distributed to affected residents.

The government has allocated a cash aid of P1,000 for each qualified individual, with a maximum of P5,000 per family.

Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that Odette affected more than 10 million people in 12 regions.

The typhoon left 405 people dead, 1,371 others injured and 52 missing.

Damage to infrastructure was placed at more than P29 billion and to agriculture at P17.7 billion.