Iligan City cancels Christmas parties

ILIGAN CITY ,Philippines  – The city government here has cancelled its Christmas party for its employees and other organizations in the wake of the devastation brought by typhoon “Sendong,” which left hundreds dead.

Mayor Lawrence Cruz advised all department heads of the local government to instead help in the relief operations.

Barangay officials here also cancelled their Christmas parties, saying they would instead donate whatever amount they would raise for the party to typhoon victims, according to Del Carmen barangay kagawad Teofilo Cabanero.

Non-government organizations; civic clubs; service organizations; barangay officials from Maria Cristina in Baloi, Lanao del Norte; private companies; corporations as well as private individuals, also decided to donate to relief efforts instead of holding Christmas parties.

Even though relief assistance is coming in, supplies such as clothing, kitchen utensils and drinking water among others are still inadequate to sustain the needs of the evacuees.

The Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said that as of Saturday night, 30 survivors were plucked from the coast of Manticao, Misamis Oriental; Tudela, Misamis Occidental; Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; and in Barangays Sta. Filomena and Buruun, in this city.