Naga gives aid to Seniang-hit towns

CEBU, Philippines - The City of Naga government has extended a P100,000 financial assistance each to the four municipalities of Cebu, which were badly hit by typhoon Seniang last December.

The grant was authorized recently through a City Council resolution and was charged to the city's calamity funds, as part of the efforts of the city government to help their neighboring towns to rebuild their respective communities.

Along with the barangay officials and city officials, Mayor Valdemar M. Chiong personally handed in a check bearing P100,000 each to Mayor Nelson Garcia of Dumanjug, Mayor  Mariano Blanco III of Ronda and Mayor Beatriz Caburnay of Alcantara.

Chiong has yet to schedule a meeting with Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga to hand the check over to the latter this week.

Of the municipalities, Ronda was most badly hit by Seniang, leaving 13 persons dead and two others missing.  

"We have always been extending a hand to those LGUs in need to help them fast-track their recovery and move on," Chiong said, adding that the city government has always been giving aid to LGUs in distress.

Last November 3, 2013, the city also extended financial assistance to northern Cebu LGU's when super typhoon Yolanda hit Cebu.

The city government allotted P1.2 million and provided packs of ready-to-eat goods and relief items to the typhoon-ravaged towns up north.

Also, the city extended financial help to the Province of Bohol in the wake of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake last October 15, 2013. — Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)