Metro Manila 'adopts' Yolanda-hit provinces

MANILA, Philippines - To speed-up the distribution of much needed aid and relief items, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making arm of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), passed a resolution enabling the agency and 11 cities in Metro Manila to "adopt" towns and cities in Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Cebu and Palawan which were hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the Metro Manila mayors who compose the MMC, can help restore law and order in damaged towns and cities.

“What these badly damaged LGUs (local government units) need is governance. It may be because even local officials were affected by the calamity, or they were just simply overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster. It is time that we in Metro Manila come in and help them run their localities,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino said the "adopt-a-LGU" plan was formally agreed upon by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) through MMC Resolution Number 2 Series of 2013 in an emergency meeting held on Wednesday. MMC is composed of the 17 mayors and one municipality (Pateros) of Metro Manila.

Under the resolution unanimously signed by the MMC, each Metro Manila LGU would adopt at least two or more worst-hit localities and help them in the post-recovery operations.

"It will be up to the sponsoring Metro Manila LGU to implement programs or mechanisms including technical and engineering experts with local government expertise that will facilitate the recovery of their adopted localities and extend the much needed assistance to the displaced residents,” Tolentino said.

The following is the list of Metro Manila LGUs and their adopted localities in the Visayas region:

• Quezon City - Palompon and Tolosa, Sante Fe in Leyte
• Pasig City- Mayorga, Palo, Barotac Viejo and Nuevo and Dumangas in Iloilo
• Mandaluyong City – Isabel and Tanauan, Leyte
• Marikina City – Hernani and Lorente, Eastern Samar
• San Juan - Ormoc City and Albuera, Leyte
• Taguig City - Gen. McArthur, Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar
• Las Pinas City – Julita and Dulag, Leyte
• Caloocan City – Javier, Mc Arthur, La Paz in Leyte
• Malabon City – Bogo, Cebu
• Navotas City – Lawaan and Giporlos, Eastern Samar
• Valenzuela City – Basey and Marabut in Western Samar

The MMDA, meanwhile, has adopted Coron, Palawan and Sulat town Eastern Samar.