P8M from City Hall for Pablo-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government will give P8 million cash assistance to Compostela Valley and 14 other municipalities, including the three towns in Davao Oriental that were also badly hit by typhoon Pablo that claimed the lives of close to 1,000 persons.

Aside from the cash assistance, the Cebu City Government - in coordination with the various civic groups like the Rotary International – will also give about six tons of relief goods and will conduct medical mission at Compostela proper.

Councilor Jose Daluz III proposed to the City Council that the City will donate P1 million for the 11 towns of Compostela Valley, but Councilor Raul Alcoseba said the City must also give financial assistance to the three municipalities of Davao Oriental namely Boston, Cateel and Baganga. The suggestion of Alcoseba was adopted by his fellow city legislators.

Assistant City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the City still has P95 million on its calamity budget and since we are already in the last week of December, the city legislators had decided to give more cash assistance to the 14 towns.

It was agreed that the City will give P1 million to the province of Compostela Valley and P500,000 to each of the 14 municipalities.

“Luoy kaayo ang maong mga lugar kay nabanlas g’yud tawon ang kabalayan sa mga tawo,” said Alvin Santillana, the assistant head of the Local Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council. (People there are desperate for help as their houses were washed away.)

Santillana was sent by Mayor Michael Rama to Compostela Valley to find out how the City could help the typhoon-affected local government units.

According to Santillana, aside from the financial assistance, they have observed that it is necessary to send a joint medical and relief mission, which will cater to medical needs, and relief aid to the victims.

Santillana said the team, which is scheduled to depart for Compostela Valley on December 26, will be bringing with them two ambulances that will be used as mobile clinic and several stocks of drugs and medicines.

The City will also shoulder the over P500,000 expenses of the team like for the transportation, food and others. — (FREEMAN)