Capitol donates P300,000 cash, goods to Opao fire victims

CEBU, Philippines - For more than an hour, Barangay Opao, Mandaue City captain Joy Ouano and her estranged brother, former Mayor Teddy Ouano were seated together at Opao Sports Gym where Governor Gwendolyn Garcia turned over goods and cash gifts of more than P300,000 to the families that were affected by the September 30 fire.

Garcia, in her speech, dubbed the situation as “one great shining moment” when Joy personally invited the former mayor, who was sitting at one of the gym’s bleachers about 10 meters away from the stage, to sit with them on the stage together with the governor.

It is a known fact that the two siblings are not in good terms both in their personal and political lives.

For her part, Joy said what she did was out of respect for the governor, and that her being a nice person had dictated her to invite her brother to join them on the stage.

“Tinuod niduol ko’s akong maguwang kay buotan man sad ko nga igsuon,” said Joy, whose statement amused her nephew and Teddy’s son, Provincial Board member Alfie Ouano, who was also among the guests.

Both Teddy and Joy, along with local officials present, assisted Garcia in handing out goods and cash assistance to the fire victims.

There were 158 families or 576 individuals who benefited from the P352,000 worth of donations from the province.

The donations included 15 sacks of National Food Authority rice, five cartons of sardines, and 10 boxes of noodles. These were equally subdivided to the victims.

Meanwhile, the owners of the 89 totally damaged house got P3,000 each while owners of the partially damaged ones received P2,000 each cash assistance.

House renters and “sharers” also got P1,000 assistance from the province. There were 22 and 36 house renters and owners, respectively.

The province also gave P5,000 aid to the family of Eulalia Ytol, a 55-year-old woman who perished during the fire. — Liv G. Campo/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)