Typhoon "Frank" (Typhoon Fengshen) victims grateful over government's attention Typhoon "Frank" victims grateful over government's attention Typhoon "Frank" victims grateful over government's attention PIA 2008/06/24 Iloilo City (24 June) -- The victims and local officials in the city and province of Iloilo were grateful for the immediate relief goods given by the national government during the visit of Vice-President Noli de Castro in this city yesterday who represented President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. VP de Castro assured typhoon victims and local officials that the national government is doing its best and working fast to help and rehabilitate situation of victims as well as infrastructure and agriculture damages. He said as soon as final assessment is done, the government will propose budget for immediate implementation and rehabilitation. VP de Castro was with Senators Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral. VP de Castro visited the municipalities of Pavia and Sta. Barbara, heavily affected by the typhoon and turned over relief goods. He then proceeded to La Isabelita Hall of Jaro Cathedral which was turned into an evacuation center for families affected in the district of Jaro, Iloilo City. He also turned over boxes of meal packs for the evacuees in the city. After meeting the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 6 (RDCC VI), VP de Castro motored to the towns of Alimodian and Leon, Iloilo to inspect the extent of damages of the Nichol's Bridge and Puga Bridge, respectively, which were heavily affected. The Nichol's Bridge was built under the President's Bridge program. For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said his agency is urgently responding to the situation. Duque said P500,000 worth of medicines was set aside for typhoon-hit areas in the region. He is also activating the surveillance units of the Department of Health and the Rural Health units to be vigilant in providing advisories and needed medicines to address waterborne diseases and concerns of sanitation. As of 4 p.m. of June 23, the RDCC VI consolidated report showed that casualties in the city and province of Iloilo reached 10. In Iloilo, the estimated damage to infrastructure is estimated P73.30. (PIA) (Bookmark this page for future reference) CABATUAN AIRPORT Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2008 Cabatuan.com