Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ningning” S. Lazaro continues to give assistance to the victims of the typhoon “Milenyo” together with the public servants in the Provincial Government. And this includes the distribution of relief goods, which consist of rice, canned goods, noodles, clothes, and medicine, to the different affected barangays of Laguna. Gov. Lazaro initially placed the province under a state of calamity due to the typhoon that wreaked havoc on Southern Luzon last September 28, 2006. As of October 8, 2006 (6:00 pm), it was reported that 57, 759 families were affected, 273,368 persons affected, 50 persons dead, 182 injured, 19 missing, 17,499 totally damaged houses, 35,495 partially damaged, and with 27 evacuation centers.

     The Provincial Government continues in giving assistance and distributing relief goods since the first day of the week. Gov. Lazaro-led group went to the barangays to give the relief goods and these were Brgys. Malitlit and Banay-Banay in Sta. Rosa City with Brgy. Chairmen Adriano Camalit and other barangay officials; Brgy. Pulo in Cabuyao with Brgy. Capt. Odilon Caparas; Brgys. San Vicente, Sto. Niño, and Tubigan in Biñan town with Brgy. Chairmen Nene Reyes, Primo Mercado, and Melquiades Espejo; Brgys. Sala, Niugan, and Brgy. III Poblacion in Cabuyao with Brgy. Chairmen Ting Alimagno and Romy Gardan; and Brgy. Paciano Rizal in Calamba City with Brgy. Capt. Roy Ramos.

     The group resumes the distribution yesterday in the municipalities of Nagcarlan and Rizal with Mayor Sendong Corales and Mayor Rolen Urriquia and some of the barangay officials. Relief goods were given for the 39 barangays in Nagcarlan and for the barangays in Rizal

     Last week, relief goods were given to Barangays Palingon, Halang, Lecheria, Brgy. Bucal, Bagong Kalsada, and other the neighboring barangays in Calamba City, for the barangays of Bay and Victoria town; for Barangays Sto. Domingo, San Joseph and Brgy. Poblacion in Biñan town; Brgys. San Vicente, Landayan, San Roque, and Nueva in San Pedro; Brgys. Dayap, Kanluran, Prinza, San Isidro, Bangyas, Silangan, Sto. Tomas, Balayhangin, Mabacan, Limao, and Paliparan in Calauan town; for the 21 upland and 7 lowland barangays in Liliw; for the barangays of Magdalena; and for the barangays of Alaminos and Nagcarlan.

     The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) was convened by Gov. Lazaro immediately during the typhoon’s aftermath for an emergency meeting to help and assist all victims. But the Provincial Government started distributing relief goods since Saturday, September 30, at Brgy. Cuyab in San Pedro, Laguna. It was followed by the different areas in the 1st District namely Gawad Kalinga Bayview Freedom Ville and Magkatabing Ilog in Sta. Rosa and Brgy. Sto. Tomas in Biñan.

     The PDCC reported P222,574,660 in agricultural damage while damage to infrastructure was placed at P111.5 million. The provincial government’s nine hospitals in different parts of the province reported 216 consultations, seven admissions, and six deaths during the typhoon’s aftermath. # (CHRIS SANJI)