In gratitude to the assistance the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided their province before and immediately after the onslaught of Supertyphoon  Ferdie,  the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Batanes passed a resolution expressing thanks to the agency.

The said resolution was passed on September 26, 2016 during the Sanguniang Panlalawigan’s 38th Regular Session. The resolution was attested and certified by Provincial Vice-Governor and Presiding Officer Ronald A. Aguto.

The provincial government of Batanes passed Resolution No. 2016-66 titled “Resolution Expressing our Sincerest Gratitude to Hon. Judy Taguiwalo, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development, for the Immediate Action after the Devastation Brought About by Supertyphoon Ferdie in the Province of Batanes.”

Category V Supertyphoon Ferdie hit the islands of Batanes on September 13 to 14 with maximum sustained winds of 220 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.  In its resolution, the provincial government said that ‘Ferdie’ left  “massive damage” to public infrastructures, private houses, agricultural crops, fisheries, livelihood, water systems, electricity and communication facilities, and the damage has been pegged at P618,272,341,00.

Through the leadership of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC) convened and prepared for immediate relief and rehabilitation assistance such as emergency communication facilities, generator sets, family food packs, and materials for makeshift houses, mineral water and others for the Province of Batanes.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Batanes stated in the resolution that “ a series of flights of the Philippine Army C130 arrived in Batanes to bring relief goods and to ferry in officials and staff of the different national agencies and members of the media to evaluate  and report the extent of the damage.”

Another aircraft ,  a C295,  ferried goods from Clark,  Pampanga  to the most stricken island municipality of Itbayat.

Because of all this, the resolution stated, “the Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolved to express its most sincere gratitude to Sec. Taguiwalo for the immediate action after the devastation brought about by Supertyphoon Ferdie in the Province of Batanes.”

In response, Sec. Taguiwalo wrote a letter to Batanes Provincial Gov. Marilou H. Cayco and thanked the members and officials of the provincial government.

“Rest assured that the DSWD will continue to provide technical assistance and augmentation support to the local government units affected by disasters, giving priority to those that are located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” she said.###