City Hall, cops launch donation drives for Bicol

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has joined the drive to extend help to victims of supertyphoon Rolly in Luzon, especially in Catanduanes in Bicol Region.

 But Mayor Edgardo Labella said the assistance will not include cash as the city is still in the middle of pandemic.

 Labella, who met with some department heads yesterday morning, said they are contemplating on sending a team that will help in the clearing and cleaning operations in the typhoon-hit areas.

 If this pushes through, the team will be headed by Councilor Dave Tumulak along with City Administrator Floro Casas.

 For the time being, the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services has set-up drop-off stations for any donations the Cebuanos would wish to send to the victims.

 Drop-off points initially include the Cebu City Hall and Fuente Osmena Rotunda near the former Fuente Police Station.

 Labella appealed to fellow Cebuanos not to include used clothes as those affected by the super typhoon are not fire victims and instead better give out bottled waters and canned goods.

 “Hangyo lang ko, ayaw lang seguro ng mga used clothings, kay di man ni sila biktima sa sunog. Ang importante seguro makahatag tag mga canned goods, or whatever, mga bottled waters, basta naa tay mahatag sa atong mga kaigsuonan karon na nabiktima,” said Labella.

 The city may also shell out some funds to buy rice and canned goods along with the food supply for the team that will be sent to Catanduanes in the next two days if plans don’t miscarry.

 The team that will be sent will also bring those donations via the Philippine Navy.

 Police donation drive

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) also launched a donation drive for the typhoon survivors that will be brought along with the 100-team man police deployment.

 The CCPO will set up a donation booth for the victims of typhoon Rolly which will be placed inside Camp Sotero Cabahug along Gorordo Avenue.

 “We all know nga ang atoang regional director duna siyay programa nga mga relief goods sa mga hinabang nga atong hinatag nato didto sa Bicol sa mga naigo sa bagyo, so in line with that atong i-replicate diri sa atoang office as support," said Police Lieautenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations.

 Parilla said they are also directing and requiring their chiefs of police under the CCPO to donate even in small portions of the basic needs like canned goods, water, and clothes.

 CCPO personnel will be assigned in the booth to accommodate those donating goods.

 "So ang tanang relief goods ang dropp-off area kay diri sa police headquarters nato diri sa Cebu City, so we will start now, naa nay gipadala nga memo sa atoa," said Parilla.

 The Police Regional Office 7 is set to send 100 cops to help the PRO-5 for the search and rescue and relief operations following order of PNP chief, General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan.

 PRO-7 Director Albert Ignatius Ferro said they are now gathering relief packs and donations that the team could bring to Bicol.

 The Minglanilla Police Station, each personnel also contributed some amount of their own money as their donation for the typhoon victims.

 The proceeds will be turned over to Cebu Police Provincial Office which also initiated their own donation drive. -- Decemay R. Padilla and Iris Hazel M. Mascardo, GMR (FREEMAN)