Pangasinan gov’t holds rehab efforts in tornado-hit villages in Bayambang

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Emilio Samson hands over the financial assistance to Vilinda Salvio, wife of Bramwell Salvio, the lone casualty during the onslaught of tornado at Barangay Inirangan in Bayambang last June 13.  With Samson is Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Lochinvar Oro. /GDMoran

 Lingayen – The provincial government extended its rehabilitation assistance on June 23 in the form of construction materials for houses destroyed by a tornado that hit 17 villages of Bayambang town last June 13.

            Ret. Col. Lochinvar Oro, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) said that the assistance was based on the post-disaster assessment received from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bayambang.

            Apart from assisting in the rehabilitation of damaged houses, the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), also extended financial support to the family of Bramwell Salvio, 33, of barangay Inirangan, the lone casualty.

            Vilinda Salvio, 25, wife of Bramwell, received the financial aid on June 24. 

Her husband was electrocuted when he touched a live wire from an electric post toppled by the tornado.  

            At least 127 families or 382 persons were displaced by the tornado, that also left five others injured, all of whom were also electrocuted.

            Meanwhile, Lerma Padagas, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, noted that validation and assessment of the areas affected were done early morning of June 14, Sunday, on instruction of Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho.

Augmentation of relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DWSD) Region 1 and DSWD provincial office with 700 family packs were received by the displaced residents while Bayambang LGU was waiting for resolutions from affected barangays asking that they be placed under the state of calamity.

             “Relief funds can’t be released to aid the victims, unless a municipality has been declared under state of calamity,” Padagas said, as she pointed out that initial relief assistance were outsourced from the DSWD.

            The GMA Kapuso Foundation, she added, has also distributed family packs for 88 affected families. 

             Padagas said request for financial assistance intended for the repair of partially and totally damaged houses and even for those injured have also been prepared for submission to the DSWD.  

             Col. Oro, who personally checked on the extent of damages from the twister, assured that the provincial government will help Bayambang LGU in its rehabilitation efforts for the damaged houses, particularly on the provision of construction materials.

             Few days after the onslaught of the tornado, residents have slowly recovered. “Unti-unti na silang nakakabangon at naikabit na nila yung mga yero na na-washed out ng tornado,” Oro said.

Affected barangays were: Ambayat 1st, Ambayat 2nd, Amancosiling Sur, Buayaen, Darawey, Dusoc, Bical Sur, Pangdel, Sancagulis, Inanlorenza, Manambong Sur, Inirangan, San Vicente, Carungay, Managos, Manambong Norte and Pantol.   /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca