Villar extends assistance to four Yolanda-affected areas in Leyte
Distributed relief packs, roofs, seeds/seedlings, fertilizers, boats for fishermen

Senator Cynthia Villar visited the towns of Dulag, Julita, Mayorga and Tanauan in Leyte early this week to help in the ongoing rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts in the province.

Villar distributed farm implements from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to 500 families in each town. These include 75 bags of vegetable seeds (corn, pechay, tomato, okra and ampalaya) and 100 coconut seedlings from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as well as 500 bags of organic fertilizers from Villar Foundation.

"We need to help Leyteños to get back on their feet. The sooner the farmers and fishermen start planting and fishing again, the sooner their lives will normalize. About one-third of workers in Leyte are in the agricultural sector, so we are focusing on them," said Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

Villar was accompanied by a team from the Department of Agriculture (DA) led by Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna; regional director Antonio Gerundio; Assistant Secretary Dong Cusio, Office of the President; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 8 Director Juan Albaladejo; Edilberto Nierva, Philippine Coconut Authority; andIsabela Rep. Rodito Abano.

"Typhoon victims or survivors cannot rely on relief good indefinitely. They should start planting and producing their own food for their own consumption and as a means of livelihood," she said.

Villar also handed out certificates of 10 motorized fishing boats with nets and patrol boats (one for each town), from DA and BFAR, to fishermen cooperatives in the coastal towns of Dulag, Mayorga and Tanauan.

Likewise, the Las Piñas Red Cross chaired by Villar, also provided 500 food packs to the town residents.

To ensure that Leyteños can return to their houses soon, Villar will provide roofing materials to 100 families in each of the four towns. The towns of Dulag and Julita, being adopted municipalities of Las Piñas City, received P1.5 million and P1 million cash assistance, respectively from the home city of the senator. The money will be used to help in the ongoing rehabilitation program after the devastation brought about by super typhoon "Yolanda."

The senator also showed support to Mayorga town's campaign dubbed as "Buhat Mayorga: Kayang-kaya Basta Sama-sama", which was launched during the delegation's visit.