Naga extends help to typhoon victims

CEBU, Philippines - The Naga City council in a special session last Tuesday approved P450,000 in financial assistance to the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete in compliance with the request of Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong.

Two checks for P150,000 each were hand carried by Councilor Rodrigo A. Navarro, a day after the council approved the resolution, to be personally distributed to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Delia Tibay, City Social Welfare chief, also handed the third check worth P150,000 to Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria.

“Our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of the victims who perished in the tragedy. Our assistance may not assuage their pain but at least we have done our part to comfort them,” said Chiong.

Chiong said it is not easy for the affected areas to help survivors, hence, everyone must step up to assist them.

“Thus we have to hand in the checks directly to the local chief executives for immediate assistance to the victims,” he said.

 Meanwhile, the city has also opened its old municipal hall to become a drop-off point of relief goods donated by well-meaning Naga residents for the typhoon victims.

Last Wednesday, the city handed its first batch of donated items to a television network which has also started its own fund-drive for the Typhoon Sendong victims.

Today, the Talisay City council is also scheduled to hold a special session to approve P400,000 in cash assistance also intended for the victims of Sendong.

Councilor Rodi Cabigas, who authors the proposed resolution, said P200,000 of this will go to Cagayan de Oro, being badly hit; while P100,000 each for the cities of Iligan and the affected areas of Negros Oriental.

The council, which is supposedly on a Christmas break since last week, had to reconvene following the request of Mayor Socrates Fernandez to hold a special session for the release of the P400,000 financial aid to the victims of the typhoon. (FREEMAN)