TUPI, SOUTH COTABATO- At least 29 affected families received financial and food assistance from Provincial Government of South Cotabato headed by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the local government unit of Tupi after a tornado hit the area last October 20, uprooting decade-old trees along the national highway and damaging few houses.
Rolly Doane Aquino, Operations and Warning Chief, said Php 140,810.00 of cash assistance were distributed to affected families in barangays Bunao and Poblacion.
“We made sure the assistance is given to them within three days,” Aquino said.
During an assessment, local government agencies found out that few houses were partially damaged; a huge tree fell down on a gasoline station, and day care centers in Barangay Poblacion and Bunao were damaged.
PDRRMO released food commodities such as five Kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee, milo, and sugar for every affected household. The team also repaired the street lights.
Local electric company SOCOTECO immediately repaired damaged post to ensure residents have continued source of electricity.
Towns like Tupi, Banga, Lake Sebu and Tampakan experienced incidence of tornado in the last 10 years, according to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
In 2012, one was killed and two were injured after a tornado hit Lake Sebu.
A similar incident also happened in Barangay Lambayong in Tampakan in 2016. Some trees were uprooted, electrical posts were toppled and roofs were ripped.
Aquino urged the public to cut and gather dead tree branches and cut down dead trees near houses.
“Be sure to comply with municipal by-laws,” Aquino added.
