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| (First posted 8/23/2007 at 5:47:21 p.m.) ABS-CBN News |
| Batanes governor appeals for emergency fund ___________________ |
| The parched hills of Batanes |
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| Batanes Gov. Telesforo Castillejos on Thursday appealed to the national government for more funds as his province continues to battle the effects of a prolonged dry spell since December 2006. Castillejos said the local government has used up its calamity funds worth P6.6 billion (nationwide), noting that food rations have to be regularly delivered to 75 percent of his constituents. He said farmers are now heavily dependent on the local government ever since the dry spell hit the province. He estimated that the total damage to crops and livestock has already reached P75 million and P115 million, respectively. He said a water shortage is also looming because the province's source of water supply had dried up. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ "We're trying to construct a new source, which is located in lower [part of the province]. Ang problema ay wala kaming pera. Iyan ang pinapakiusap namin, na mabigyan kami ng national government (The problem is we don't have enough money. That's what we are appealing to the national government)," he said. Castillejos said that ever since he placed Batanes under a state of calamity, help from the national government has yet to come. He said he already submitted a report to the National Disaster Coordinating Council but he was told that the executive official he should talk to is out of the country. |