P200K for typhoon victims: CH cuts budget for sportsfest

CEBU, Philippines - In order to help typhoon victims, Cebu City Government has decided to slash the budget for its sportsfest next month raising about P200,000.

Human Resource Department Office head, Atty. Dominic Dino, said from the P250 per employee allocation, P100 will be donated for the rehabilitation of areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

“We had a meeting with sports coordinators this morning (Friday). It was agreed that instead of the entire amount, P100 will be donated considering activity shirts have already been ordered,” Dino said.

Cebu City Hall has approximately 2,000 employees who will join the annual inter-department sports festival in December.

Employees and department heads, Dino added, have yet to meet again to finally decide on whether or not to give up the budget for the City Hall Christmas party for the funds to be used by typhoon affected areas in bouncing back from what is said to be the strongest typhoon to hit the planet.

“We will set for a follow up meeting to decide on how to go about the Christmas party. If we are going to give up the entire P250 per employee, we can raise approximately P1 million since we have about 4,000 employees in total,” Dino said.

He added that the donation will not be mandatory and will depend on the discretion of the employee.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama likewise wanted to leave the decision to the employees.

Rama earlier announced giving up his entire salary for the month of November amounting to at least P50,000.

Councilor Alvin Dizon authored a resolution passed during Wednesday’s council session in order for legislative and executive department of the City Government sit down and study the possibility of cancelling Christmas party and donate the budget to the typhoon victims.

While the mayor encouraged pledging money for the typhoon victims, he, however does not favor cancelling the Christmas party. —GMR (FREEMAN)