Tagbilaran helps Pablo victims in Mindanao

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – The city government has launched a fund drive to help the suffering victims of super-typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley (ComVal) provinces in Mindanao, according to Mayor Dan Neri-Lim.

Lim said he initiated the fund-raising campaign by putting up P1.5-million seed money, approved by the City Council during its session last Friday presided over Vice Mayor Jas Tirol-Montes.

The money raised will shared at half a million each for the towns of Boston, New Bataan, Baganga and Moncayo of ComVal, the mayor said during his weekly radio program over the weekend.

Lim said he was able to contact Gov. Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental about Tagbilaran’s financial aid, which will go directly to the most affected victims in that province, now numbering at least 300.

The governor described her province and towns most devastated by the typhoon as “total ground zero,” meaning that nothing remains standing in terms of infrastructure, including the supposedly evacuation center. 

Lim was also able to talk to Gov. Arturo Uy of ComVal, who in turn thanked the Boholano mayor. Uy said there are now at least 300 dead, based on the retrieval efforts, and over 400 still missing in that province. New Bataan is the most devastated, said the governor, adding that there were Boholanos that were also affected by the devastation.

Lim immediately called on Boholanos for typhoon victim assistance and few minutes later money started to pour during the one hour extended program allowed by the radio station. He vowed to continue the drive through this week. (FREEMAN)