PALO, Leyte- The Knights of Columbus extended financial assistance to the 22 of its members who perished during the supertyphoon Yolanda.
The giving of P5,000 cash assistance to the members of the family of those who were killed by the massive typhoon was led by no less than the Visayas State Deputy Rodrigo Sorongon last week.
“Of course I am happy for this financial assistance extended by the Knights of Columbus to us who lost their loved ones during Yolanda. Still, the money would remain to be not of big concern to us considering that in my case, I lost a grandson,” said Emilio Lim who was among those who received the financial help.
Lim lost his grandson Joven, 24, during the typhoon when their house located at Magallanes area was destroyed by the storm surge generated by Yolanda, considered to be the worst typhoon on record in the world.
The giving of financial assistance to the members of the Knights of Columbus whose members died during the disaster was held at the San Joaquin Church, this town.
The churchyard had become a mass gravesite with more than 200 people, including children, were hastily buried.
Sorongon said that the financial assistance extended to the next of kin who lost their loved ones during the typhoon is just one way of showing their support to them.
During the giving of the assistance, Sorongon was assisted by Allan Nicolas Ouano, administration assistance for Eastern and Central Visayas and Teofrido Lagrea, regional deputy. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways commended the members of the Northern Samar Second District Engineering District Task Force Yolanda for their invaluable services they rendered during the massive typhoon.
The men and women members of the task force were given a certificate of appreciation signed by Secretary Rogelio Singson and Regional Director Rolando Asis, among other officials.
‘LEST WE FORGET’. This certificate of commendation is hereby awarded to ‘person involve’ for extending his dedicated and untiring services in the clearing and other disaster response operations, thereby leaving his comfort zone in order to alleviate the hapless plight of the people of Eastern Visayas, especially in the hardest-hit areas of Tacloban City and outlying municipalities caused by the utter devastation brought about by Super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ on November 8, 2013.
Indeed you exemplify what a dependable DPWH employee; is one who is relentlessly eager to Deliver Public Service Without Hesitation. May your tribe increase,” part of the certification said issued on December 19, 2013.
The other signatories of the award were Asec. Dimas S. Soguilon, Assistant Secretary for Visayas and Mindanao and Usec. Romeo S. Momo, Undersecretary for Regional Operations.
All the recipient personnel of the Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office led by OIC District Engineer Ferdinand Briones down to the last worker of the maintenance section and other support staffs who were in Tacloban City during the whole duration of the above-mention clearing operations of the regional center were center were elated and have conveyed their gratitude for having given such recognition. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- A total of 913 families, all victims of the supertyphoon Yolanda, will benefit from a housing project in this city, a Pag-Ibig Fund 8 report said.
Paulino Talacay, regional department manager of Pag-Ibig (Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan-Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya, Gobyerno),told reporters in an interview that Greenland Townhomes housing project will provide housing for the 913 beneficiaries from this city.
Talacay said that the 5-hectare project is funded by the Pag-IBIG Fund 8 with the total project cost of more than P273.74 million.
He added that each housing unit with a cost of P400,000 has a floor area of 26 square meters with a lot area of 28 square meters. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- Failure to attend their regular session held last March this year
has resulted for the city council not to tackle the master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban.
Thus said Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin who is also the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglunsod during an interview.
Yaokasin said that majority of the members of the council were not able to attend their scheduled regular session as they were in Manila to attend the national congress of the Philippine Councilors League.
Aside from the vice mayor, only Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez was in Tacloban during that time.
Had they held their session, they could have discussed the proposed master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban after it was pummeled by supertyphoon Yolanda, Yaokasin said.
According to the vice mayor, the master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban must be given a priority by city officials as the national government has been waiting for it for quite sometimes now.
Under the proposed rehabilitation plan, all projects need funding requirements reason why this must be tackled and presented to the national government through the office of Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of the Presidential Assistant for Recovery and Rehabilitation.
He added that the priority now should be the immediate repairs of all public buildings, and housing, among others. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)