Gov't allocates funds for livelihood assistance to displaced workers in N. Mindanao   PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio "Sonny" B. Coloma Jr. said that the government has allocated necessary funds to help the affected workers here to recover from the ill-effects of the devastation wrought by tropical storm "Sendong" that hit the Northern Mindanao region over the past weeks. In an interview with local media at the City Central School Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday, Coloma said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) led by Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz will be releasing at least three million pesos for livelihood assistance to the displaced workers in the area. "Within this week, for some 327 affected workers dito sa area na ito ay magre-release ang DOLE ng three million pesos na livelihood starter kit para matulungan sila na magbagong tatag ng kani-kanilang mga buhay," Coloma said. Apart from the starter kit, the locals will also be given food and salaries as they rebuild their houses in authorized, strategic areas under the "Food-for-Work" program. Also with Coloma who flew in to the typhoon-affected areas were Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman, Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Secretary Baldoz. The typhoon hit northern Mindanao the past week leaving enormous devastation to the lives and properties of people living in the area. (PCOO)