DBM: Yolanda fund won't go to 'Lawin' victims | getupdatedph

MANILA- The funds for typhoon "Yolanda" victims will not be used for the victims of typhoon "Lawin" since the government has a separate calamity fund, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Monday.

Diokno said there is still around P13 billion left in the Yolanda fund but the government is currently using the remaining P16 billion in its calamity fund for Lawin victims.

"Dedicated talaga yun (funds) sa Yolanda," Diokno said in an interview on DZMM.

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute emergency shelter assistance worth P30,000 for totally destroyed houses and P10,000 for partially destroyed houses most likely within two weeks.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has reported around 7,000 damaged houses in Isabela and a total of 2,920 houses in Cagayan.

"We are trying to streamline operations so siguro mga two weeks, ganun kabilis ang DSWD ngayon," Diokno said.

Asked how the government plans to address infrastructure damage in typhoon-hit areas, Diokno said local government units have separate calamity funds which they can use once the area has been placed in a state of calamity.

Diokno also revealed that the government plans to expand the Science and Technology Department's Project NOAH to easily identify areas even before a typhoon hits the country to avoid corruption in calamity funds.







SOURCE: ABS-CBN

BREAKING NEWS: UB: 17-anyos na nag-apply na kasambahay, muntik nang magahasa sa Pasay | getupdatedph

Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Rhea Santos and Arnold Clavio, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:15 AM (PHL Time).

SOURCE: YOUTUBE

WATCH: Duterte mimics Yasay's 'Obama accent' | getupdatedph

MANILA - In an apparent attempt to lighten the mood in typhoon-ravaged Isabela, President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday cracked a joke on the American accent of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay.

Duterte, who distributed relief aid to Isabela, told residents that he had shared a dormitory with Yasay and Labor chief Walden Bello in college.

He then referred to Yasay as the Cabinet Secretary who talks like US President Barack Obama.

"Ang ka-roommate ko dito sa aking kwarto ay si Yasay, 'yung Foreign Secretary, kung mag-English, kala mo si Obama," he said. "Narinig na ninyo si Yasay magsalita? Parang Amerikano ang buang, Pilipino naman."

[My room mate was Yasay, the Foreign Secretary, who speaks English like Obama. Have you heard Yasay talk? That crazy man talks like an American, but he's a Filipino.]

Watch the President mimic his chief diplomat here:








SOURCE: ABS-CBN