Bukidnon town gives cash aid to Leyte town

KANANGA LEYTE, Philippines - — Government officials of Lantapan town in Bukidnon province, led by Mayor Godofredo Balansag, visited this town to hand over to Mayor Elmer Codilla a P200,000 check in assistance and another amount of P43,277 courtesy of Lantapan government employees.

Balansag, in a huddle with The Freeman, disclosed that "it is very unbecoming for me both as a friend and a fellow Filipino not to personally visit Mayor Codilla of  Kananga and the rest of Leyte."

The Lantapan mayor said that, aside from the assistance his LGU extended to Kananga, he also wanted to have an actual view of the devastation Yolanda brought here so he will have an idea on how to prepare his constituents if ever, God forbids, similar disaster will happen in his town.

Mayor Codilla, for his part, was deeply touched by the visitors who traveled far from their banana-rich town in Mindanao to help the Leyteños. He was more touched by the money that the people of Lantapan pooled from their own pockets to help the Kananga victims.

"We thank our friend (Mayor Balansag) for personally bringing the assistance, and I wish to announce that when Mayor Balansag handed to me the cash donations of Lantapan government employees, it rendered me speechless for a while because it includes coins. It really comes from the heart," said Codilla.

Balansag, together with Vice Mayor Ernie de Vibar and Councilor Sulpicio Gallano and party stayed overnight in the area and proceed to Tacloban City the following day to donate another P300,000 to Leyte province, through Governor Dominic Petilla.  (FREEMAN)