Pangasinan gov’t holds rehab efforts in tornado-hit villages in Bayambang

Lingayen – The provincial government extended its rehabilitation assistance on June 23 in the form of construction materials for houses destroyed by a tornado that hit 17 villages of Bayambang town last June 13.

Ret. Col. Lochinvar Oro, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) said that the assistance was based on the post-disaster assessment received from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bayambang.

Apart from assisting in the rehabilitation of damaged houses, the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), also extended financial support to the family of Bramwell Salvio, 33, of barangay Inirangan, the lone casualty.

Vilinda Salvio, 25, wife of Bramwell, received the financial aid on June 24.
Her husband was electrocuted when he touched a live wire from an electric post toppled by the tornado.

At least 127 families or 382 persons were displaced by the tornado, that also left five others injured, all of whom were also electrocuted.

Meanwhile, Lerma Padagas, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, noted that validation and assessment of the areas affected were done early morning of June 14, Sunday, on instruction of Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho.

Augmentation of relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DWSD) Region 1 and DSWD provincial office with 700 family packs were received by the displaced residents while Bayambang LGU was waiting for resolutions from affected barangays asking that they be placed under the state of calamity.

“Relief funds can’t be released to aid the victims, unless a municipality has been declared under state of calamity,” Padagas said, as she pointed out that initial relief assistance were outsourced from the DSWD.

The GMA Kapuso Foundation, she added, has also distributed family packs for 88 affected families.

Padagas said request for financial assistance intended for the repair of partially and totally damaged houses and even for those injured have also been prepared for submission to the DSWD.

Col. Oro, who personally checked on the extent of damages from the twister, assured that the provincial government will help Bayambang LGU in its rehabilitation efforts for the damaged houses, particularly on the provision of construction materials.

Few days after the onslaught of the tornado, residents have slowly recovered. “Unti-unti na silang nakakabangon at naikabit na nila yung mga yero na na-washed out ng tornado,” Oro said.

Affected barangays were: Ambayat 1^st, Ambayat 2^nd, Amancosiling Sur, Buayaen, Darawey, Dusoc, Bical Sur, Pangdel, Sancagulis, Inanlorenza, Manambong Sur, Inirangan, San Vicente, Carungay, Managos, Manambong Norte and Pantol.   /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE

June 25, 2015

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Prov’l employees receive PEI bonus

LINGAYEN — More than 3,000 provincial employees including casual and contractual workers have received their Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) bonus pursuant to Executive Order No. 181 dated May 15, 2015 from the Office of the President.

This came following the passage of Supplemental Investment Program No. 3 for CY 2015 as provided for in Provincial Resolution No. 1404-2015 passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in its regular session last Monday June 22.

In this resolution, some P24.5 million were allocated for this incentive from the P46,735,500 approved Supplemental Budget No. 3 endorsed to the SP by the Provincial Development Council Execom through Resolution No. 06-15 chaired by Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria J. Claveria told board members that the permanent employees are set to receive this week the one-half of their monthly salary. The province has yet to look for other sources for the payment of remaining half in December.

Likewise, the casual and job order employees including consultants will be receiving P5,000 incentive bonus.

According to Claveria, the fund was sourced out from the reversion of current appropriations from savings on Personal Services and unappropriated surplus.

On top of the PEI, the provincial employees have already received their mid-year 13^th month pay last May.

The employees thanked the provincial government for allocating budget for the productivity incentive bonus which according to them was “very timely and very helpful during this enrolment period.”

Meanwhile, Provincial Accountant Arturo Soriano belied reports that the payment of PEI to the employees came from the excise tax.

“Magagamit lang ang excise tax sa mga programa para sa tobacco-producing municipalities katulad ng farm-to-market roads, solar drying facilities. Ito ay para sa ating mga farmers lamang. Kaya walang katotohanan na kumuha ang probinsya sa excise tax para may ibayad sa incentive bonus ng mga empleyado.” Soriano said.

Also included in Supplemental Budget No. 3 are the augmentation fund of the operational expenses of some provincial offices, public affairs fund, cultural preservation and incentive awards, and drugs and medicines for hospitals. (Merly Ramos)