Bohol Governor Art Yap on Monday appealed for cash, chainsaw, and other construction materials as donations for residents to help in the reconstruction and revitalizing the economy in the typhoon-ravaged province.
According to Yap, donors should not shy away from donating cash to the provincial government because they will be used for a cash-for-work program for the residents.
Financial aid also arrives faster than other relief goods in the province, added Yap.
"Mas mabilis po yun. 'Pag yung materials po nanggagaling ng Metro Manila, hirap na hirap kaming itransport - nakikiusap pa kami sa coast guard at saka sa Navy," he told DZRH in an interview.
(It’s faster. If materials come from Metro Manila, they are hard to transport. We still have to ask the coast guard and the Navy.)
"At least 'yung pera, deposited po yun sa provincial government ng Bohol account, at least mapapasok po yun sa government account. Wag pong matatakot ang ating mga kababayan na mawawaldas po yung kwarta," he continued.
(Unlike money, it is deposited to the provincial government of Bohol account, at least it comes in the government account. So our countrymen who are donating money should not be afraid.)
"Papasok po 'yan sa government accounting system. So 'yan pwede pong ipambili dito yan," he added.
(That enters our government accounting system. So that could be used for purchasing.)
The Bohol governor said the money will be used for their cash-for-work scheme, which will help in clearing operations and circulation of money in the province.
"'Yung paglilinis lang - magbibigay sana kami ng cash for work para umikot na po yung ekonomiya sa baba. Pambili lang ng konting pagkain," he explained.
(Even in cleaning operations – we plan on giving cash for work for the economy to get revitalized down there. It could be used to buy food.)
"Dun po namin ilalagay yung kwarta ngayon, 'yung mga binibigay po na funding dito sa donations. Dun po namin ibinibigay," he continued.
(We plan to put the money there. The money given from donations, we will put it there.)
Meanwhile, Yap also underscored the importance of sending construction materials, such as saws, chainsaws, and nails, that could be used for the rebuilding process.
"Humihingi pa rin kami ng mga chainsaw kasi dinidistribute namin 'yan sa barangay. Ang dami pong mga puno ngayon na nahulog, nagiba. So yung mga puno na yan, pwedeng i-chainsaw at gamitin agad sa lumber. I-distribute sa mga tao, ipamigay na ng libre," he explained.
(We are also asking for chainsaws because we will distribute them to barangays. There are a lot of trees that fell. Those trees can be cut and used for lumber. It can be distributed to the people and given for free.)
Typhoon Odette made a total of nine landfalls when it passed through the Philippines, two of them were in Bohol, particularly the municipalities of President Carlos P. Garcia and Bien Unido.
