PIGCAWAYAN, Cotabato Province (PIA) -- Senator Imee Marcos, along with other local officials, led the distribution of relief assistance Friday, Nov. 4 to victims of #PaengPH at the Bulucaon Evacuation Center in Barangay Bulucaon here.

Marcos handed over an initial amount of P5,000 each for families whose houses were damaged by #PaengPH. These beneficiaries were from the 12 hard-hit barangays of the municipality.

Those with damaged houses, she said, will receive P10,000 each.

"Unahin natin yung mga tinamaan ng bagyo at ng baha at nawalan ng trabaho. Higit sa lahat nawalan ng ani, at nawalan pati ng bahay," Marcos said.

The 500 affected families also received relief items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In Pigcawayan town, #PaengPH left 69 totally damaged and 262 partially damaged houses.

Marcos said that five municipalities in the province will receive P5 million each to help mend the damage on agriculture. The beneficiary towns are Aleosan, Midsayap, Kabacan, Libungan, Pigcawayan, and Carmen. The local chief executives, she said, will be responsible for identifying the beneficiaries in their respective area and distributing the assistance.

Marcos also said she will request the Department of Labor and Employment to release fund for the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.

This is not only to provide financial assistance but also to pave the way for clearing operations in affected communities, she said.

Furthermore, the senator assured the provincial government that her office and other concerned government agencies will also provide assistance to other affected municipalities in the province. (PIA XII)