#nationataglance SSS opens calamity loan fund for Ompong-hit areas THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) announced yesterday that thas allocated P16 billion forthe calamity assistance program (CAP) for more than a milion ofits active members and pensioners who were affected by the typhoon Mangkhut (local name: Ompong) last ‘month, Ina statement, the state pension fund saidit started offering lst Oct. the calamity loan, an advance three-month pension, and direct house repair and improvement loan for the affected members. “SSS recognizes that a large number of members residing in Luzon atea are curently struggling to recover from the devastation of Super Typhoon Ompong,” SSS President and Chief Executive Oficer Em- ‘manuel FDooc was quoted in the statement. Qualfied members and pensioners who can avail of the CAP are those who reside or have a propery in calaity-stricken areas identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The provinces include ‘bra, Apayao, Benguet, ugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, llacos Nort, locos ur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, ‘Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecja, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal >> See ful story on httos://goo.g1/MKMNLg NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION Brace for worse traffic congestion as more infra works start CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION: MOTORISTS AND commuters should expect even heavier trafic in the BAGUIO CITY coming days with road closures in several parts of congested Metro Cordillera starts drafting post-Ompong Manila for infrastructure projects that started over the weekend, the rehabilitation plan Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said, The U-Turn slot in ‘A COMPREHENSIVE Post Disaster Needs Assessment Commonwealth Avenue was closed last Oct. 5 to give way to the con- (PDNA) is now being finalized by the Office of Civil struction of the abutment station of the Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT-7). Defense-Corillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR), ‘The closure will last for two months. “Please bear with us. Thisis one of Which willbe used for the rehabilitation and recovery the projects under the Build, Build, Build program, one ofthe govern- plan for areas devastated by typhoon Ompong (inter- ment’s long term solutions to address traffic in the metro," said MMDA ‘national name; Mangkhut) in mid-Sept. The Regional General Manager Jose Arturo S. Garcia, J. in a press briefing Friday. On Development Council in a statement, said the recovery the other, Mr. Garcia said several infrastructure projects in the capital plan covers infrastructure social services, settlement, have been completed while others are nearing completion, in time for livelihood, and agriculture, Government agencies and the Christmas holiday rush. The southbound bridge of Concordia Bridge local government units had until Oct. 7 to submit dam- was opened on Oct. 4, while the 10-klometer Laguna Lake Highway {age reports and recovery plan inputs. The consolidated {rom Bicutan to, an alternative route to C% and EDSA, is expected to be program wil be ed by OCD-CAR and the regional office completed before the year ends. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras ofthe National Economic and Development Authority ‘As of Sept. 28, OCD reported that the typhoon affected 100,204 families with 390,819 individuals across the region. The death toll reached 114, of wihich 94 were in Itogon where a major landslide occurred, Around 3258 families in Itogon are in need of permanent relocation. Damage to agriculture and fisheries including irrigation, stood at P5.92 billion, while damage to public infrastruc- ture was P3.51 billion. OCD-CAR Regional Director Ruben L Carandang said evacuation centers are among the ‘most urgent needs. He asked the provincial and munici- ‘pal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils ORRMO) to submit a lst of buildings or lots that are potential evacuation sites. He said, “We need to locate ‘where to place the evacuees, not just schools because the education ofthe children willbe affected.” The result of the PONA and the rehabilitation a plan will be submit- ted to the national DRRMC for funding. LEYTE’S “GREAT WALL, intended mainly for protection from storm surges, is also designed in some portions to serve asa baywalk and bicycle lane. EASTERN VISAYAS: PALO CITY, LEYTE ‘Great Wall’ of Leyte done by 2019, says DPWH > THE NEW Leyte Embankment Project, which has also been Lepseeeersnuar dubbed as the Leyte “Great Wall’, is exnected to be completed by 2019, a year ahead of the original schedule, according to the DAVAO: TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE Department of Works and Highways (OPWH). In a statement on Oct 5, the agency said the 27 kilometer barrier spanning Tagum Freedom Park the cities Tacloban, Palo, and Tanuan will serve as the “frst line An architect’s perspective of Tagum City’s Freedom of defense against storm surge such as what happened during Park after it undergoes improvement work through a the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.” The project involves 14.6-million fund under the Department of Budget a four-meter-high seawall structure with concrete pavement, and Management's “Green, Green, Green’ Program for railings, ramps, and street lights, DPWH said the structure is now developing more public open spaces. A walkway link 40% complete. Three other major projects inthe province are to the Rotary Park will be built later on as part of what also targeted for completion by next year. These are: Mahaplag- the City Architect’s Office call as the “City Walk.” Hilongos Road; Ormoc City Diversion Road; and the Tacloban City By-Pass Road along with its extension component. DAVAO: DAVAO CITY Davao mayor says no to teachers’ P406-M subsidy request DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has turned down the demand of the Alli- ance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Davao City Chapter for aP406 million annual subsidy from the local government, covering 11,959 teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd). The amount translates to a 2,000 monthly cash subsidy and P2,500 quarterly rice subsidy for the DepEd employees. “At this point itis impossible to allot P406 milion to DepEd teaching ‘and non-teaching personnel alone,” Ms Carpio said in a interview, nating that there is no basis in law for the local government unit to provide such assistance to national government employees, specifically the DepEd. The mayor also pointed ‘out that subsidies to DepEd workers are likewise not allowed under the Special Education Fund, “But as | told them | am willing to find a win-win solution be- tween their proposal and capacity of the city government. | explained that the city government employees don't have allowances beyond what they receive as man- dated by law and no rice subsidies too,” she said. The mayor asked the ACT officers. to submit another proposal, but not P406 million which is “too high’, before the annual budget deadline on Oct. 15. ACT-Davao City President Reynaldo S. Pardillo, meanwhile, acknowledged that the mayor is correct in saying that the Special Education Fund cannot be used for subsidies. However, he said “the allowance can MAYOR Sara Duterte-Carpio (R) speaks certainly be charged to the city's General Fund like in the case of Quezon City and to members of the Alliance of Concerned 21 other cities in the country.” Mr. Pardilo said they will submit another proposal Teachers-Davao City in front of the city hall ‘and he is hoping to have a dialogue with the local officials to discuss what is “do- after last week’s flag-raising ceremony. able” for the city. — Carmencita A. Carillo CCARMENCITA A. CARILLO BBUSINESSWORLD GRAPHICS: ERK/\ CAPILIINCIONG