Capitol, Cebu City, Mandaue to give financial aid to Surigao

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government will be extending P1 million in aid to the survivors of the 6.7-magnitude quake that rocked Surigao City, Surigao del Norte on Friday night.

The Provincial Board, in its regular session yesterday, has approved en masse a resolution authorizing Governor Hilario Davide III to release the financial assistance to Surigao City.

“The state of Surigao City and the plight of its residents due to the unfortunate event call for both government and the private sector to pull together their resources and come to the rescue with all the assistance and support they can muster,” reads the resolution penned by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

The powerful quake has taken the lives of eight people, injured hundreds, with over a thousand homes destroyed or damaged, officials said. The city has been placed under a state of calamity.

Magpale recalled that the city government of Surigao also extended financial assistance to Cebu province in 2013 when the province was hit by super typhoon Yolanda.

“It is but fit and proper to reciprocate Surigao City with the kindness and generosity that they had shown to us during our times of need,” she said.

The cash aid, Magpale said, would be sourced from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) fund.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the aid will be given to the city government anytime this week.

Tribunalo said the province will only send its people and experts there for clearing and rehabilitation operations if the quake-hit city will make a request.

“If they need technical assistance, mag-agad ta sa ilang request and assessment sa region and the Office of the Civil Defense-7,” he said.

In Cebu City, City Councilor Jerry Guardo is proposing to give financial aid for those affected by the quake amounting to P500,000 to be presented to the other members of the City Council for approval during today’s regular session.

Guardo claimed that the proposed amount may be increased by the time it will be pushed through to the executive department headed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña for its further approval.

Acting mayor Edguardo Labella said he was the one who directed Guardo to come up with a proposal as their way of showing sympathy for those affected.

He said it was not the first time that the city government has helped neighboring LGUS who experienced calamities.

"What is important, we have shown our sympathy, it’s not much on the amount but on the gesture of giving aid as way of manifesting our sympathy," he said.

Additionally, the Mandaue City government will also be extending P100,000 financial assistance for Surigao City.

Lawyer Elaine Bathan, the chief of staff of Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing, yesterday said the grant will be authorized by passing a City Council resolution as part of the efforts of the city government to help their neighboring cities and provinces to rebuild their respective communities.

Bathan said the sources of funds can be charged to the calamity fund or from the local disaster fund.

Bathan said the mayor and all Mandauehanons are offering their sympathy for the people of Surigao.

"The City of Mandaue condoles with our brothers and sisters in Surigao City and we are with you as you begin the road to recovery. Vice Mayor Carlo and I have agreed to send financial assistance as our small gesture of solidarity for their reconstruction effort," Quisumbing said on his Facebook page. —/JBB (FREEMAN)