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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez's team barred from distributing disaster aid in Davao City, says solon 

Romualdez's team barred from distributing disaster aid in Davao City, says solon 

Published Feb 8, 2024 09:11 am

At A Glance

  • Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co bared in a "teleradyo" interview Wednesday, Feb. 7  that volunteers from the offices of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list are being prevented in Davao City from distributing aid under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. 
  • Davao City is the home turf of former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

IMG-629affe9543ec03081ec0530c019e9de-V.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are politics getting in the way of the distribution of aid or "ayuda" in the disaster-stricken Davao region? 

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co bared in a "teleradyo" interview Wednesday, Feb. 7  that volunteers from the offices of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list are being prevented in Davao City from distributing aid under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. 

"Hinaharang sa Davao. Pagdating ho sa Davao City, rinereport ng ating mga kasamahan doon na binabawalang mamigay ang representative ni Speaker Romualdez at ang Tingog Party-list. Kaya yung instead yung pwede sana maibigay yung AICS, e namimigay na lang ng sariling pera at bigas ang ating Speaker para lang maipaabot ang tulong," Co said. 

(They're being blocked in Davao. When it comes to Davao City, it's being reported by our team there that representatives of Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list are being prevented from distributing aid. That's why instead of distributing AICS, the Speaker resorted to giving away his own money and rice just to be able to help.) 

Davao City is the home turf of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Since the last quarter of 2023, Duterte has hurled tirades against the House of Representatives and against the Speaker in particular. 

The ex-president is the father of Vice President Sara Duterte, who has allegedly had a falling out with Speaker Romualdez. 

The two Tingog Party-list solons in the House are Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre. 

Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. says the people should not suffer if there are political differences between the Speaker and the local officials of Davao City. 

“Sana pagdating sa pagtulong, wala na lang personalan dahil kailangan ng Davao City ang tulong,” he said. 

(Hopefully when help comes, we set aside personal feelings because Davao City needs help.) 

Earlier, Speaker Romualdez facilitated the release of some P150 million in financial aid from President Marcos' administration to all the flood victims in the Davao region. This will be under the AICS of the DSWD and coursed through members of the House of Representatives and local government executives. 

The offices of the House Speaker and Tingog Party-list have earlier sent 21,000 food packs to the affected families in the region. 

Davao Oriental Reps. Nelson Dayanghirang and Cheeno Almario, Davao del Norte Rep. Aldu Dujali, Davao de Oro Rep. Maricar Zamora, PBA Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles, and Davao del Norte Vice Governor Oyo Uy have all thanked President Marcos and Speaker Romualdez for sending assistance to their respective constituents. 

All the lawmakers' districts were endorsed to received P20 million in cash assistance each, while Vice Governor Uy’s office was endorsed to get P10 million under AICS.

 

Related Tags

Martin Romualdez Davao region Rodrigo Duterte zaldy co
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