More than 1,700 residents of Quezon affected by tropical cyclone ‘’Paeng’’ have received financial assistance facilitated by two lawmakers from the province and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Quezon Rep. and House Deputy Majority Leader David C. Suarez and wife, Alona party-list Rep. Anna Suarez, assisted by Quezon Provincial Board Member Ferdinand "Bong" Talabong, distributed aid to recipients from the towns of Candelaria and Sariaya and Lucena City after validation by local social welfare development offices.
Suarez said he has requested additional funding for the Department of Labor and Employment-TUPAD program from Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to provide emergency employment to Paeng victims in the province.
The Quezon solon, meanwhile, said the Department of Public Works and Highways-Quezon 2nd District Engineering Office will construct the temporary access to the collapsed Bantilan Bridge that connects Quezon and Batangas in two weeks.
Hundreds of students crossing Barangay Bantilan, Sariaya, Quezon to Barangay Tipas, San Juan, Batangas and vice-versa will benefit from the footbridge, Suarez said.
The DPWH is now planning and programming the construction of a new bridge. Funding has been discussed with DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Suarez hopes the construction of the new bridge will start this year and completed in 2023.