P5 million in financial aid for Taal victims pushed

CEBU, Philippines —  Following his visit to the Province of Batangas, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the city government is planning to give P5 million in financial assistance to the victims of the Taal volcano eruption.

Labella went to Batangas on Wednesday, January 22, to convey solidarity and assistance to the victims, where he also met with Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.

“He is feeding 200, 000 people everyday. He really needs help according to him,” said Labella.

Labella said Mandanas suggested to donate sacks of rice, not canned goods.

“It will be impractical for us to send sacks of rice. We’ll just send cash,” the mayor said.

Labella said he already requested Councilor Joel Garganera to sponsor the resolution on giving P5 million in cash aid to the victims. The money will be sourced from the city’s calamity fund.

He added he might send some members of the council to personally hand the check to Mandanas.

According to the mayor, Mandanas promised to provide the city government liquidation of their expenses.

“It’s good for us to help because they really need food,” said Labella.

Labella said he personally went to Batangas to assess the needs of the victims.

This is to avoid wastage of funds, he said.

Sports complexes up for upgrade

Meanwhile, Labella said all the sports complexes in the city will be “upgraded, rehabilitated, and improved” to make them as evacuation centers.

“I would like now that there would be a POWE (Program of Work and Estimates) on making our sports complexes as ‘evacuation center ready’,” he said.

He said they will start with the fire-prone barangays. There will be additional toilets and amenities in each barangay sports complex, which will be used only during disaster and calamity and will be maintained by the barangays.

The fund in converting the sports complexes into “evacuation center ready” will depend on the POWE, said Labella.

“We have the budget for that purpose,” he said.

Labella said he got the idea while he was going around the evacuation centers in Batangas.  KQD (FREEMAN)