Maguindanao, NCotabato to send relief teams to Tacloban

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The provincial governments of the neighboring Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces will dispatch separate relief teams before  weekend to Tacloban City to help in the rehabilitation of thousands affected by last week’s  deadly Typhoon Yolanda onslaught.

The office of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, in an emailed advisory, said their relief and rehabilitation group will leave for Tacloban City on Saturday.

Members of the team will bring with them relief supplies donated by North Cotabato residents and the local government units (LGUs) in the province.

The North Cotabato provincial government, which started collecting donations Tuesday, is now initiating coordination with government agencies that can help transport supplies and medical personnel to Tacloban City, according to Mendoza.

“We sympathize with all people affected by the typhoon. Their plight is so saddening. We are one with them in heart and spirit,” Mendoza said.

The office of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, the league of mayors in the province and the provincial board will also embark on a joint relief and rehabilitation mission this weekend.

Bobby Katambak, a member of the Maguindanao provincial board, said the relief mission from the province will also depart Friday.

Katambak said Mangudadatu, who is chairman of the provincial peace and order council, had tasked senior officials of the provincial government, led by Lynette Estandarte, to oversee the relief mission.

Estandarte, who is Maguindanao’s chief provincial budget officer, said they will bring with them food packs, medicines and non-food relief goods to be distributed to typhoon victims.

Katambak and Estandarte said Mangudadatu has decided to make simple the commemoration of Maguindanao’s 40th founding anniversary, slated Nov. 14 to 22, in solidarity with the communities devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Estandarte said Mangudadatu is keen on transporting medicines, rice and freshwater fishes to Tacloban City.

“Maguindanao, being surrounded by marshes and criss-crossed by rivers, is the top supplier of assorted freshwater fishes to many areas in Central Mindanao region. The governor wants to share the bounties that can be harvested from the marshes and rivers in the province to show solidarity with the typhoon victims,” Estandarte said.