Assistance for Sendong Survivors

Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. filed a series of resolutions in the House of Representatives to speed up assistance for Sendong affected residents of both Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. The resolutions were intended to speed up the recovery of the residents and/or help them in their difficulties.

The first of the series of resolutions directs the government service insurance system, the social security system and the home development mutual fund (pag-ibig)to grant a one year moratorium on loan payments and contributions and to approve the immediate release of loan applications of those affected by typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan city.

The brothers likewise filed a resolution directing the insurance commissioner to order the insurance companies to pay the insurance proceeds of the insured vehicles that were damaged by typhoon Sendong even if these vehicles do not have acts of god coverage.

Resolutions werealso filed addressed to the DOH, NHA and DSWD directing them to concentrate all efforts and all available resources to Cagayan de Oro city in order to address the medical, housing needs of the people affected by typhoon Sendong and to hasten the development of the city.

Finally, a resolution was passed directing the department of public works and highways to immediately start reconstructing all the damaged and destroyed infrastructures in Cagayan de Oro City as a result of typhoon Sendong and immediately release one billion pesos from its lump sum funds to finance these reconstruction projects.

All agencies involved in the rehabilitation efforts for the survivors are hurrying up their projects to be able to normalize the lives of the people as early as possible. Psychologists have said that the earlier the lives of survivors are normalized the less traumatic will the incident be to them.