E. Samar Rep. Evardone, 8 mayors visit Negros Or. for relief assistance

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone and eight mayors from that province, which was badly hit by Yolanda, were in Negros Oriental to meet with Gov. Roel Degamo in relation to a relief aid set aside for them.

The group’s visit was in line with Negros Oriental LGU’s P4-million pledge of donation for typhoon victims in Eastern Samar.

Degamo personally handed over P500,000 check each to Mayors Candida Gabornes of  Lawaan town, Viscuso de Lira of Balangiga, Mark Biong of Giporlos, Nedito Campo of Quinapondan, Melchor Mergal of Salcedo, Enrique Cabos of Mercedes, Edgar Boco of Hernani and Allan Contado of Balangkayan.

Capitol spokesperson Adrian Sedillo said Evardone had earlier appealed for help for the disaster-stricken areas in Eastern Samar noting that immediately after Yolanda, the focus of relief operations were on Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte.

The Negros Oriental LGU has allocated P13-million from its quick response fund, under its calamity fund, for various recipients in areas devastated by disasters in the past year, said Sedillo.

These included P2 million for Bayawan City and P1 million each for the flooded Sta. Catalina and Basay towns in Negros Oriental; P1 million each for Bohol and Cebu that were severely damaged by the October 15, 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake; and P1 million for Zamboanga City that was overran by the MILF in September last year.

Later, the provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) also set aside P6 million for Yolanda victims, itemized as follows: P4 million for Eastern Samar and P1 million each for Iloilo and Negros Occidental. —(FREEMAN)