CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday approved an additional amount for financial assistance to other areas in the Visayas affected by super typhoon Yolanda on top of the P12 million that the city government earlier distributed.
The council agreed to shell out P1.6 million more from the city’s calamity fund. Councilor Hans Abella originally proposed to only give P200,000 to Padre Burgos town in Southern Leyte. But, Councilor Margarita “Margot†Osmeña proposed an amendment to the resolution to include the towns of Merida, Bato, and Albuera, all in Southern Leyte, as well as the Batasan Island in Bohol, and Tabuelan town in Cebu.
Osmeña also increased the amount to P300,000 each except for Batasan Island and Tabuelan which will receive P200,000 each.
Osmeña, who heads the committee on budget and finance, said the city government can afford to give the amount because it still has a calamity fund.
“Naay kwarta sa calamity fund so kaya mohatag og cash assistance ang city,†Osmeña said.—, (FREEMAN)