Makati gov't sends relief goods to 35 Visayas towns

MANILA, Philippines - Relief items for victims of typhoon Yolanda from the Makati City government and the Office of the Vice Mayor have so far reached 15 towns in Leyte, eight towns in Biliran and 12 towns in Samar.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Friday said the city government on Thursday sent one bus to assist in the Oplan Salubong of the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. 

"We could only spare one unit as other city-owned buses are being used for the ongoing transfer of recent fire victims to relocation areas and for the transport of relief goods,” he said.

Binay said the city government will also lend some payloaders in addition to the five dump trucks sent earlier to Tacloban City for use in ongoing relief and recovery operations.

“We are working closely with the Office of the Vice President in undertaking relief operations and extending other forms of assistance to affected localities and to national agencies tasked with relief, recovery and rehabilitation,” he said.

To date, relief packs containing rice, canned goods and noodles have been sent to 15 towns of Leyte. These are Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga, MacArthur, Abuyog, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Capoocan, Julita, La Paz, Burauen, Dagami and Tabontabon.

The next batch of relief goods will be deployed today to the following towns in Samar: Borongan, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Hernani, MacArthur, Buenavista, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan, Giporlos and Quinapondan.

Earlier, the Makati City Council approved a P50-million allocation for relief assistance to typhoon-ravaged local government units in the Visayas Region, many of which are sister-localities of Makati.

The city government has mobilized its workforce, led by the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD), in the preparation of relief goods and materials in the covered court of Barangay Poblacion. MSWD and other city personnel have also been lending manpower and technical assistance to relief operations led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez at the Valenzuela covered court in Makati.

Donations, in cash or in kind, and volunteers are welcome at the Poblacion Covered Court located along JP Rizal St. in front of Makati Museum and Poblacion Barangay Hall.