Mayor Khymer Olaso Monday afternoon, June 15 attended a high-level briefing in General Santos City where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. unveiled a multi-million aid, recovery package for quake-hit Mindanao.

Zamboanga City, which was hit by an intensity 4 earthquake last Monday, June 8, received P15-M as direct financial assistance to “reinforce humanitarian operations and immediate recovery programs.” The funding is charged against the Socio-Civic Project Fund (SCPF)

Olaso together with a representative from the City Treasurer’s Office received the special financial assistance grant intended for individuals, communities, or group beneficiaries who were severely affected by the earthquake.

Mayor Olaso during the meeting with the president, cabinet officials and chief executives from local government units (LGUs) from areas hit by the earthquake in Mindanao, brought out the urgent need to establish evacuation centers in the city’s east coast to temporarily house affected individuals in times of emergences such earthquake or flooding.

Following the earthquake last June 8, Olaso declared suspension of classes and work in the city. More or less 4,544 families with some 16,206 individuals were temporarily evacuated due to tsunami threat following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that originated offshore Sarangani.

The high-level briefing was attended by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, as well as local chief executives from areas affected such as General Santos City, Sarangani Province, and others areas such as Zamboanga City. (Sheila Covarrubias) (photo credits: Kathy Wee Sit)