Nearly 500 families in three Bagamanoc barangays received cash aid of P5,000 each last week from the Philippine Red Cross in its Super Typhoon “Pepito” relief operation `while another 256 recipients from nine barangays in Viga were given non-food items.
PRC Catanduanes Chapter Administrator Reymund Reginaldo said that Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon was supposed to spearhead the distribution of Multi-Purpose Cash Grants (MPCG) and non-food items but the bad weather brought by the shearline led to the cancellation of his flight to Virac via private plane last Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
Instead, the distribution in the two towns was graced by Bagamanoc Mayor Odilon Pascua and Viga Mayor Emeterio Tarin, and chapter directors Pedro Bonafe and Elpidio Tuboro, together with Reginaldo and his staff as well as three others deployed to Catanduanes by PRC headquarters – Rey Bualat, Marvin Jay Santos and Christian Noel Tejares.
At the Viga Multipurpose Covered Court, the beneficiaries from barangays Asuncion (12), Peñafrancia (21), San Jose (65), Quezon (38), San Vicente (32), San Isidro (7), Pedro Vera (34), Mabini (9) and Soboc (38) each received a sleeping kit, two collapsible water containers and a hygiene kit coming from Australian Aid.
The same Red Cross team also delivered to a warehouse in Panganiban 478 collapsible water containers, 288 hygiene kits and 242 sleeping kits.
Kitchen sets will be distributed to 238 beneficiaries in Gigmoto while AusAid non-food items will go to 287 recipients in Panganiban after the Red Cross has conducted its beneficiary carding.
In Bagamanoc town, 455 heads of families in barangays Antipolo (141), Bagatabao (171) and Poblacion (143) were given the P5,000 MPCG by the Red Cross.
On the same day, the PRC team conducted impact assessment in barangay Quigaray as well as the prelisting of possible beneficiaries of the cash grants.