EARTHQUAKE-HIT TOWNS RECEIVE AID FOR INFRA RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS

PADADA, DAVAO DEL SUR – Eight municipalities from Davao del Sur and North Cotabato provinces receive power and carpentry tools to help rebuild establishments affected by the series of earthquakes that hit Mindanao last year.

The local government units of Padada, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Kiblawan, Matanao, M’lang, Tulunan, and Makilala were the recipients of the assistance that were formally turned over in Padada on February 6, 2020.

Each municipality was given welding machines, rotary drills, marble cutters, and planers – among others which will be used in repairing public buildings and other government facilities.

A “bayanihan” system will also be implemented by the LGUs as the tools will be made available to barangays in order to expedite repairs.

“These are well-intentioned interventions that we have set up among ourselves because governance and leadership requires us to innovate and adjust to any given situation,” MinDA Chairman Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol said.

The materials for the rebuilding program were provided by Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development through the support of Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee and Philippine Business Council in Indonesia.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), on the other hand, facilitated the turnover from partner organizations to the LGUs.

“With the help of these tools, we are positive that we would be able to help our communities recover from the impact of the earthquakes,” according to Michelle Anne Armillo from the LGU of Kiblawan.

The provision of power and carpentry tools follows the turnover of lumber and other wood materials last week in Digos. Last December 2019, Environment Secretary General Roy Cimatu ordered the release of seized lumber products to be used as assistance in rehabilitating earthquake-hit areas.