Batac: The city government has released PHP 5 million from its Quick Response Fund (QRF) to provide immediate assistance to residents affected by the July 5 fire that razed the Batac public market. Batac City Mayor Mark Christian Chua confirmed this in a media interview on Friday, stating that the funds were distributed to stall owners on a pro rata basis.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Chua mentioned that the financial assistance from the city government ranges from PHP10,000 to PHP100,000, based on the damage assessment conducted on each stall by the city government. "A lot of the affected stall owners received PHP100,000 and the minimum is PHP10,000. For now, they are okay," he said, adding that the city government will continue to assist the affected vendors to help them recover from their losses.
The release of the Quick Response Fund is aimed at strengthening the local government's disaster response capacity and ensuring that assistance reaches affected families without delay, Mayor Chua emphasized. Since Monday, various government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, along with other public and private partners such as the offices of the first and second district representatives of Ilocos Norte and the provincial government, have been coordinating closely with the city government of Batac to conduct damage assessments and identify beneficiaries to help them recover from the tragedy.
Family food packs, rice aid, and cash amounts were distributed to nearly 300 affected market vendors this week, with initial damages from the fire estimated at PHP10 million. In coordination with the national government, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos assured affected residents that additional support, including livelihood assistance and rehabilitation programs, will be provided as recovery efforts continue.
Affected residents have welcomed the immediate assistance, expressing gratitude for the government's swift response during this difficult time. Authorities continue to encourage affected families to coordinate with local officials to facilitate the distribution of aid and access other available government services.
