Pacquiao, Moreno sending aid to typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines — After the delivery of a planeload of relief goods in Cebu Saturday night, presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao dispatched another batch of humanitarian aid to Cebu yesterday to help families struggling in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.

Pacquiao said he has also procured some 55,000 Unipak sardines in Cebu, now being prepared for distribution.

“Last night (Saturday) we were able to send the first wave of our humanitarian relief for Cebu City. A Cebu Pacific Airbus A320 carrying 10 tons of assorted relief goods like rice, noodles, coffee and clothes arrived in Cebu City at around 6 p.m.,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

He said he turned over the relief goods to Gov. Gwen Garcia as it would be better if the local government be in-charge of their distribution.

Last Saturday’s humanitarian flight is the first to arrive in Cebu which is one of the hardest hit by Odette, he said.

Yesterday, another 10 tons of relief goods arrived in the province aboard a British Aerospace Avro RJ100.

Pacquiao said the devastation caused by the super typhoon is both “mind-boggling and heartbreaking,” citing reports from his own teams conducting ground and aerial surveys.

There were stretches of destroyed houses and buildings and long lines of people trying to secure water and fuel, he said.

The senator appealed to his friends, especially those in the international community, to provide humanitarian assistance such as food, water, blankets, clothes, power generators and construction materials.

“I am appealing to all my friends including those in other countries to please, please help us. Our people need help. Please send us anything that can help ease the burden on our people,” Pacquiao said. “Let’s not regret spending our money… the Lord will give that back.”

Pacquiao said his team is also preparing truckloads of relief goods which will be sent to disaster-stricken areas in Leyte and the Caraga region.

He will also send generators to be installed in some city and municipal halls so that these can be used for charging mobile phones.

Pacquiao said that his office is still procuring other relief goods and is continuously collecting donations from friends and supporters so they can expand coverage of their relief operation.

He thanked all those who helped him in the humanitarian effort.

Moreno’s donation drive

Meanwhile, presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno also appealed for donations from his supporters for the victims of Odette.

Moreno said his supporters may drop off any goods contributed to his donation drive under the Kaagapay ng Manileño Foundation Inc. on P. Noval Street in Sampaloc, Manila.

“Thankful as we are that Metro Manila and Luzon were spared by Typhoon Odette, I now appeal to kind-hearted Mañilenos to share whatever they can for our Visayan and Mindanao brothers severely affected by the typhoon,” Moreno said.

The city government also allotted P2.5 million for storm victims in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Surigao del Norte.

Moreno had flown to Cebu City last Saturday to meet Governor Garcia and hand over aid that included P2 million. – Delon Porcalla, Marc Jayson Cayabyab