MANILA. Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to give Php5,000 to each family that was affected by Typhoon Odette.

The President assured that the government has enough funds set for the said financial assistance.

“May pera naman. I am giving P5,000 per family. Itong pera na nakuha ko, which I have gathered, will be sufficient for the assistance of P5,000 for everybody,” Duterte said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said the joint circular on the releasing of cash assistance to typhoon-hit areas has already been issued.

Año said Php4 billion will be needed for the cash assistance.

Duterte also directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to procure tarpaulins to be used in making temporary shelters for those who lost their homes.

“Yung mga taong natutulog sa labas, emergency, so bili ka ng trapal appropropriate size good for 6 people,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will be needing close to Php150 million to give assistance to small businesses that were also affected by the typhoon.

“Ang estimate po namin magiging 2,000 ang beneficiary per probinsiya. Kung 2,000 ‘yan at bawat isa ang programa natin ay P8,000 to P10,000 kada micro entrepreneur para mabigyan ng pangkabuhayan package,” said Sec. Ramon Lopez.

He said that each province hit by Odette will be allotted Php20 million.

To date, the department has already allotted Php8.2 million to be released as assistance to business owners in Siargao.

This is apart from the livelihood aid for 1,000 beneficiaries in Regions 6, 7, 8, and Caraga.

President Duterte said he plans to return to the areas affected by Odette to personally witness the recovery efforts that the government is conducting so far. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Nel Maribojoc)

 Senator Richard Gordon

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday filed Senate Bill 1771, or the Death in Custody Reporting Bill that will mandate the reporting to concerned government agencies death or sickness of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and detained children in conflict with the law.

This move was prompted by the death of former police officer Jonel Nuezca inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Nuezca was convicted for gunning down Sonia Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank Anthony, 25, point-blank during a heated argument in Paniqui, Tarlac in December 2020.  He was sentenced to two Reclusion Perpetua (20 years and 1 day to 40 years).

Gordon who chairs the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee said the death of a high-profile inmate becomes questionable when there is a delay in the reporting.

Gordon cited reports stating that from October 2019 to April 2020, there had been around 50 to 60 inmates who had succumbed to death.

In April 2020, one death was recorded and was followed by eight more after three months.

Among these deaths was that of high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian who was convicted for kidnap for ransom and carjacking cases. He also stood as a witness in illegal drug charges against Senator Leila de Lima.

Gordon’s proposed bill seeks to direct the heads of the Bureau of Corrections, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, youth detention homes and youth rehabilitation centers, and the wardens of provincial jails to submit a monthly report on the deaths of inmates who are convicted of heinous crimes with a sentence of life imprisonment to the departments of Justice, Interior, and Social Welfare and Development, the Supreme Court, and the Commission on Human Rights.

The lawmaker said the National Bureau of Investigation must launch investigations on inmates and children in conflict with the law who died under dubious circumstances.

The families of inmates who died inside the prison must be provided with updates on the status of the case and the result of the investigation.

Officers who will be found remiss in submitting reports will be meted out with six months to two-year imprisonment and a penalty of Php500,000 to Php1-million. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Harlene Delgado)

MANILA, Philippines — Makatatanggap ng dagdag na insentibo ang mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) na nakakumpleto na ng bakuna kontra COVID-19.

Ayon kay Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista, nakatakdang maglabas ng executive order si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kaugnay ng programa.

“The president will issue an executive order on how to grant incentives to the members of 4Ps once they submit themselves for vaccination without violating the regulations governing the program,” ang pahayag ni Bautista nang bumisita ito sa isang vaccination center sa Zamboanga City noong Martes.

Hindi binanggit ng opisyal kung anong insentibo ang ibibigay sa 4Ps beneficiaries.

Ayon sa DSWD chief, mas marami na ngayong 4Ps beneficiaries ang interesado nang magpabakuna matapos magsagawa ng information drive ang pamahalaan kaugnay ng hakbang.

“We explained to them that they really need to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease during the conduct of the family development sessions,” ani Bautista.