Buddhist group gives relief, financial aid to Ormoc residents

CEBU, Philippines - The Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist organization, has poured an estimated P100-million in relief and financial assistance to 10,000 families in Ormoc City and in Tacloban City. 

In Ormoc, the foundation gave each recipient 20 kilos of  rice each, a blanket of  recyclable plastic,  groceries and cash of P8,000 for a family of  three, P12,000.00 for a family of five and P15,000.00 for a bigger family. It also gave P15,000.00 each to the City Hall's 1,000 employees.

As of  yesterday, Tzu Chi already distributed goods to selected recipients at the city's Brgys. Camp Downes, Canadieng, Curva, Ipil, San Pablo, Linao and Lilo-an. More distribution will be done in other barangays today.

Manuel Lee, a member of the foundation, said in Tacloban, they have adopted a cash-for-work scheme, of  which a person is paid P500 for a day of work in cleaning up the community.

Lee said Tzu Chi was originally on its way to Tacloban when it met Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez (4th district, Leyte), who persuaded the foundation to put Ormoc on its priority list of beneficiaries.

The foundation acceded to Lucy's plea but clarified that it had nothing to do with politics and that it was the one that chose the beneficiaries.

Lucy, who attended in the relief distribution at Brgys. San Pablo and Linao on Sunday, told the recipients to cherish the generosity of the Tzu Chi Foundation.

At Brgy San Pablo, Mayor Edward Codilla and wife Violy was also present, seated next to Lucy and holding hands while the Tzu Chi's song of unity and worldwide friendship was sung. Lucy said, "We are in a time when we have to set aside politics." (FREEMAN)