CATBALOGAN CITY- Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said there is a valid reason for declaring a state of calamity in the province after it was hit by typhoon Glenda. Tan, in a press conference on August 5, said the decision of the provincial board to declare a state of calamity would ensure the provincial government could hasten the release of funds intended for the victims of Glenda which hit Samar last month. Earlier, the provincial board, headed by Vice Governor Stephen James Tan, placed the entire province under a state of calamity which resulted for the provincial government to utilize its calamity fund.
Gov. Tan said that aside from a speedy release of funds, the declaration would benefit the victims of the typhoons as they would be assured of assistance coming from other agencies of the government and even from the private sector. Board Member Alan Diomangay of the first district of Samar, said that declaration made it possible for the provincial government to hasten its action like the procurement of much needed food intended for the typhoon victims.
At present, around P11 million remains out of the current calamity fund budget of the province. Meantime, Gov. Tan said that with the declaration of President Aquino for a P1 billion assistance for her province also battered by supertyphoon Yolanda, full rehabilitation works among affected areas in the province could now be expected.
But Tan, who is not a political ally of the President, expressed her reservation that not all the P1 billion could be release for her province. But even only a part of the promised P1 billion rehabilitation funds would be a big help to her province, the governor said. The provincial government had earlier released P20 million for Yolanda victims while another P13 million for the victims of Glenda. (LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
