TAGBILARAN, Bohol, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday assured residents that the government has sufficient funds to finance the relief operations for the earthquake victims as he continued leading the relief assistance to displaced residents in the province.
On the second-day of his visit to Bohol, the Chief Executive checked out the Tubigon municipality to see the extent of damages and the condition of the families who were displaced following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 15.
He first inspected the Tubigon Municipal Hall, St. Isidore Parish, the public market and the port in Tubigon.
The Chief Executive then proceeded to the Sagbayan Municipal Hall where he distributed food packs to over 600 families who were temporarily staying in tents in front of the municipal hall.
He also inspected the town’s San Agustin Parish and the public market.
Reports showed that there were 12 casualties and some 4,018 families were displaced in Sagbayan. The Department of Social Worker and Development had already distributed 6,080 food packs and 1,352 bottle waters to residents in Sagbayan.
On the other hand, the provincial government had extended 7,200 food packs and 8,748 bottled waters while private groups distributed 5,687 food packs and 974 bottled waters.
Joining the President during the inspection were Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson Jr., Social Worker and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and officials of concerned government agencies and local government units.
The Chief Executive flew on Wednesday afternoon to Tagbilaran City to visit the municipalities of Loon, Tubigon and Sagbayan.
Upon his arrival on Wednesday, the President first visited Loon South Central School which serves as one of the evacuation centers for displaced residents of Loon and nearby municipalities.
At the school, President Aquino led the distribution of relief assistance to affected families.
He then toured Loon where he inspected the site of Our Lady of Light Parish which was totally devastated by the earthquake.
President Aquino also checked out the buildings of the public market and Congressman Natalio P. Castillo Sr. Memorial Hospital before proceeding to Loon Municipal Hall where he was briefed by officials from the national government and local government units on the progress of the rehabilitation and relief operations in the province.
Last October 16, the President flew to the provinces of Bohol and Cebu to assess the extent of damages brought by the earthquake.
He also directed the officials to firm up strategies to minimize the impact of the earthquake to the communities
A state of calamity has been declared by the government in Cebu and Bohol provinces.