The Philippine National Red Cross Camarines Sur Chapter may be creating more impact on the lives of the people than the much publicized huge rehabilitation fund of Php 7 billion allocated by the national government to Bicol whose relevance to the lives of typhoon victims is hardly seen.
With assistance from the International Federation of the Red Cross Societies throughout the world, the Camarines Sur PNRC is presently rebuilding the homes for 5,600 families in Camarines Sur located in 20 municipalities and 69 barangays, including barangay Cararayan in Naga City and in Iriga City.
Ms. Nanette E. Rodrigazo, Camarines Sur Red Cross Administrator, said 3,360 families are beneficiaries of housing materials with a value of Php 30,000 each or a total cost of Php 100,800,000.00 while 2,240 families are each getting Php 10,000 worth of roofing materials or a total cost of Php 22,400,000.00.
Ms. Rodrigago disclosed that the town of Pamplona has the biggest number of beneficiaries at 476 families, followed by Camaligan, 425; Cabusao, 420; Milaor, 416; Baao, 409; Ocampo, 357; and Balatan, 330.
Other Camarines Sur towns with families benefiting from the Red Cross assistance are Presentacion, 300; Bombon, 241; Minalabac, 240; Iriga City, 231; San Jose, 225; Bula, 206; San Fernando, 205; Buhi, 176; Bato, 171; Pili, 169; Pasacao, 85; Gainza, 78; and Calabanga, 60.
Aside from the housing materials, benefi ciaries also received food donations worth Php 1,000 each from the Australian government or with an aggregate value of Php 560,000.00.
Queried as to why some towns which suffered more the burst of the typhoon like Caramoan, Garchitorena and Siruma were not allocated the housing assistance Rodrigazo claimed that Red Cross volunteers in those municipalities did not or failed to report damage on specific number of houses.
Observers said this is a serious case of negligence that must be taken into account by the Red Cross.
