Flooded residents receive relief assistance from Sen. Cayetano

Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil (left) in a huddle with Senator Peter
 Cayetano in Lingayen, Pangasinan after the latter distributed relief
 goods last August 23 to evacuees who were dislocated by
Typhoon Maring. Photo MORTZ ORTIGOZA

Lingayen --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Senator Alan Peter Cayetano gave some 530 family packs of relief goods to the provincial government on August 23 to augment the supply of relief goods for the victims of the monsoon rains and typhoons Labuyo and Maring.
 The relief goods were distributed by a team from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Philippine National Police to flooded residents in Balococ, Lingayen town.
 Residents in other severely affected towns will also receive similar assistance from the Senator, PSWDO Emil Samson said, adding that "the provincial government continues to provide relief assistance to flooded Pangasinenses who were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers.
" On instruction of Governor Amado T. Espino Jr., about 4,860 relief goods were so far distributed by the provincial government at the evacuation centers in various municipalities. As of presstime, 3,477 persons (841 families) are housed in 22 evacuation centers.
Among 15 flooded municipalities in the province, towns of Sta. Barbara, Calasiao and Aguilar have been declared on "state of calamity."
 Bj Pagulayan, supervising staff of Sen. Cayetano disclosed that the Senator, who earlier distributed relief assistance in Tarlac province, opted to visit the province, mainly those flooded residents in Lingayen town, to distribute the relief goods.
 In a courtesy call to Governor Amado T. Espino Jr., the Senator expressed willingness to help residents in the province who are affected by the monsoon rains and typhoon Maring.
Present during the courtesy call were Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard Baraan, Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil and Board Members Ranjit Shahani and Nestor Reyes.
 Gov. Espino, who was thankful of the visit of the Senator, made a good impression on Cayetano's scheme on Rehabilitation and Recovery Program which seeks to help the victims of unprecedented disasters.
 "Gusto niya kasi na tulungan ang mga small or micro businesses kasi alam niya na may sinimulan sila ngunit minalas, para makabangon muli," he said.
 Gov. Espino alerts residents of the province to take precautionary measures to avoid dengue, leptospirosis and other contagious diseases as continuous rainfall is still expected in the coming days. (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)