Tandag City, Surigao del Sur — Unity Team senatorial candidate Harry Roque on Thursday pushed for the passage of a supplemental budget for victims of typhoon “Odette” to speed up house reconstruction and livelihood assistance.
Roque came to help typhoon victims in Brgy. Bongtod in this city and handed over 700 relief packs to residents. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Cong. Romeo Momo, Surigao Gov. Alexander Pimentel and Tandag City Mayor Roxanne Pimentel and Councilor Lery Montesclaros welcomed him.
Roque explained that a supplemental budget would help the residents rebuild whatever they lost, including employment, during the typhoon.
“Ang ayuda po importante dahil matapos ang bagyo, maraming nawalan ng hanapbuhay, maraming nawalan ng bahay para tuluyang makabangon ang mga lugar na nasalanta ng bagyong Odette,” Roque said in his speech during the relief operations.
Roque said he would prioritize the legislation of a supplemental budget in the Senate if he were elected in the May 2022 national elections.
“Ako po ang mangunguna sa Senado na magkaroon ng supplemental budget. Karagdagang budget sa lahat ng lugar ng nasalanta ng ‘Odette.’ Kaya po asahan ninyo po sa kauna-unahang araw ng Senado kung tayo ay makakarating doon,” he said.
Roque stressed that the 2022 budget allocation would not be enough to assist typhoon victims in December last year.
“Hindi po matatapos ang paghihinagpis natin matapos ang isang buwan, hindi po ‘yan matatapos ng anim na buwan,” Roque said.
“Hindi po ‘yan matatapos ng isang taon dahil nakita ko po ‘yan—ang danyos na ginawa ng ‘Odette’ sa Dinagat, Siargao, Cebu, Leyte, Southern Leyte ngayon Surigao Del Sur, Palawan, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental. Matatagalan po ang pagbangon natin, sinabayan pa ng Omicron.”
Roque and his team earlier delivered 7,600 food packs, 300 hygiene kits, and 500-gallon of six-liter water to residents with the help of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, and local government officials of the provinces of Dinagat, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Butuan City.
