Oversight Committee Created for Fair Distribution
of Calamity Assistance

Some 630 earthquake victims are identified beneficiaries of calamity assistance from the provincial gov't and congressional district office. With that number against available funds, assistance which each would need for rehabilitation is inadequate. For emergency purposes, Gov. Gato created an Oversight Committee to validate the degree of destruction and to categorize the same into A, B, and C depending on volume of damage. Of the 630, some 75 were listed under category A which meant they are the priority beneficiaries on grounds such as the degree of destruction, classification of damage and economic status of the victims to mention some. A damaged kitchen against the living quarters, and a low-income earning family against the employed were some points considered and validated. Category A has the following: Basco 4, Mahatao 13, Ivana 10, Uyugan 43, Sabtang 5.

The Oversight Committee is composed of representative from the Provincial Planning Development Office, Provincial Government, Provincial Engineering Office, DSWD, DPWH, Congressional District office and the concerned municipality.

Category B and C shall wait for incoming assistance. Many expressed displeasure on the graduated delivery of assistance but not even Malacañang could pour the assistance to the 630 at a time.

Priority beneficiaries from the 6 municipalities received construction materials worth P20,000 each last September 22 to 24, 2000. The hardest hit municipality of Uyugan has 43 priority beneficiaries. Even the materials are given by installment due to shortage of stocks brought by the scarcity of sea vessels to bring such to Batanes. (PIA, Batanes)