OVP, Makati gov’t to bring aid to typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines - Government and private sectors continue to bring relief to typhoon-ravaged areas in Mindanao as thousands remained in evacuation centers awaiting help.

Medical teams from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the city government of Makati were dispatched to hold a two-day medical mission in Monkayo, Compostela Valley and Cateel, Davao Oriental, Vice President Jejomar Binay announced yesterday.

Binay said the team, composed of 19 doctors and three nurses, would distribute 30 boxes of medicine and provide counseling to the typhoon victims.

Aside from relief supplies, the OVP and the city government also sent a K-9 team and rescue personnel to Compostela Valley to help recover victims buried under tons of logs and mud.

“I am optimistic that we will overcome this tragedy. Nevertheless, I urge everyone to continue to help our fellow Filipinos who were affected by the typhoon as they re-establish themselves,” Binay said.

The city government of Cebu pledged to give P8-million cash assistance, which would be distributed equally to typhoon-hit villages in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, aside from six tons of relief goods and medical mission.

The donation was made possible through the passage of a proposal filed by Councilor Jose Daluz III seeking to give P1 million for Comval’s 11 towns.

But Councilor Raul Alcoseba suggested that the city must also give financial assistance to three typhoon-hit towns of Davao Oriental. His suggestion was adopted by his colleagues in the city council.

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

The city government will also send a joint relief and medical mission team and two ambulances on Dec. 26 to Compostela Valley.

Meanwhile, the Oblates Missionary Foundation and the media group of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) congregation in Cotabato City sent yesterday a huge amount of relief supplies donated by its employees and the city residents during the past two weeks. – Jose Rodel Clapano, John Unson, Rene Borromeo