Office of the Vice President : Press Release

Ms. Ronadale Zapata
83321148/8334507

PAG-IBIG TO GRANT CALAMITY LOAN TO AFFECTED MEMBERS IN MINDORO
12 December 2005

Processing centers and express lane would soon be put up at the Calapan City Hall by Pag-IBIG to assist members who were victimized by the collapse of two dikes brought about by torrential rains. Affected Pag-IBIG members may avail of a calamity/multi purpose loan of up to 80% of their total contributions.

Vice President Noli "Kabayan" De Castro aboard a chopper, inspects the extent of the damage caused by flooding in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Looking on is Governor Arnan Panaligan. De Castro visited his home province last Friday as a follow through to the earlier visit of President Arroyo to assess the prevailing situation in the province. The Vice President checked on the condition of his fellow Mindoreños and led in the relief effort. (OVP Photo by Egay Montana 12/12/05)

This was announced by Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro, also concurrent chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), when he visited the disaster-stricken areas in Oriental Mindoro recently as a follow through to the visit of President Arroyo to assess the prevailing situation in the province.

Ang calamity/multipurpose loan na ito ay ang kagyat na tulong ng Pag-IBIG sa ating mga nasalantang kababayan sa Oriental Mindoro bilang tugon sa agaran nilang pangangailangan matapos na masalanta ng mga pagbahang dulot ng mga bumigay na dike.

In his visit to his home province, Vice President De Castro saw for himself the extent of destruction brought about by the damaged dikes reportedly due to the swelling of the Bucayao and Mag-asawang tubig rivers in Calapan City.

Vice President Noli "Kabayan" De Castro checks on the condition of Mindoreño-evacuees in one of the evacuation centers in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. With the VP is Calapan City Mayor Carlos Brucal. De Castro announced that processing centers and an express lane would soon be put up at the Calapan City Hall by Pag-IBIG to assist members who were victimized by the collapse of two dikes brought about by torrential rains. Affected Pag-IBIG members may avail of a calamity/multi purpose loan of up to 80% of their total contributions. (OVP photo by Egay Montana)

In a briefing by Oriental Mindoro Governor Arnan Panaligan, Vice Governor Estela Aseron, Col. Villanueva of the 204th Brigade Command, Calapan City Mayor Carlos Brucal, Engr. Serafin Santos of the Department of Public Works and Highways the Vice President learned that damage to infrastructure and properties to the province is estimated at P138Million.

An aerial inspection conducted with Governor Panaligan, Col. Villanueva and Mayor Brucal prompted Vice President De Castro to conclude that priority action should be undertaken to repair the damaged dikes to prevent another flooding in the event of another monsoon-induced raining. Governor Panaligan committed to start rehabilitation as soon as the weather gets better and flooding subsides.

Kailangan agad magsagawa ng nararapat na pagkukumpuni sa lalong madaling panahon upang maiwasang muling mangyari ang lubhang pagbaha. Kahit hindi bagyo ang dumaan nitong makaraang mga araw, nanganganib pa rin ang ating mga kapwa Mindoreño sakaling muling magtagal ang pag-ulan.

Meanwhile, residents have begun to trek back to their homes after floodwaters subside. Support and assistance, however, continue to pour in from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Health and the Philippine National Red Cross among others.