City, Province to help quake-stricken LGUs

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has assured that the city government will provide aid to the Mindanao earthquake victims, but they need to assess first their primary needs to avoid wastage of public funds.

A group led by Councilor David Tumulak went to the local government units affected by the 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao yesterday to conduct an assessment.

"They will make a report to us on what are the things that are needed primarily, the aids that we would be sending to these affected municipalities," said Labella.

Right after the assessment, the city government will start sending the necessary assistance to the earthquake victims, Labella added.

Disaster Office Chief Harold Alcontin, Engineer Ricky Enolpe of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and Sheila Daluz, Chief of the Department of Manpower Development and Placement also went to Mindanao with Tumulak to help in assessing the needs of the earthquake victims.

Labella said the most important material to send is water.

"Because they really lack water. They could not cook their rice without water," said Labella.

The city government has also put up two relief assistance centers where the public can send their donations. These are located in Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Sugbo.

The campaign to help the people of Mindanao, who are still suffering the aftermath of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake, is called "Cebu City Tabang Mindanao."

Labella disclosed that there will be coordination between the city government and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide more help in Mindanao.

He also appealed to all the "well-meaning citizens" of the city.

"Tabangan nato ang atong mga igsoon didto sa Mindanao," said Labella.

Labella said the assessment is very important because he does not want to repeat what happened during the Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 where the city government sent millions of pesos to many local government units but ended up being wasted.

Meanwhile, the Province of Cebu will also be extending P20 million of financial aid to the eight affected local government units.

A resolution was passed en masse in yesterday’s Provincial Board Session appropriating P20 million of the province’s funds to Makilala, Tulunan, Kidapawan, Magpet, Matanao, Bansalan and Digos.

“In a meeting with Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia, Board Members Glenn Soco, Andrei Duterte, Jose Mari Salvador, and Wilson Ramos, the OIC- Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the Provincial Budget Office, and the Provincial Treasurer, it was agreed that there was an urgent need to help out fellow Filipinos whose circumstances are insufferable,” the resolution read.

In an interview, Garcia said that the allocation of aid would be done equitably.  Meaning, areas with more families adversely affected by the earthquake will be given more aid.

“We will be giving financial assistance. Kini, ato ning gihimong equitable… equitably distributed,” Garcia disclosed.

Following this, Makilala with 20,704 families affected will be receiving P7 million; Tudulan with 3,659 and Magsaysay with 3,215 families will be receiving P3 million each. Kidapawan with 2,009 and Magpet with 2,024 will be receiving P2 million each. While Matanao with 1,309 families, Bansalan with 1,185 families and Digos with 1,120 families will be receiving P1 million each.

Garcia has also enjoined the general public and Capitol employees to take part in the donation drive and send their donations to designated drop off centers.

“We should help them. We really consider them our brothers and sisters. For many of them, they can trace their roots back to Cebu.  We are encouraging everyone who would wish to donate to avail of the services of our drop-off center kay naka-link up na ta sa Coast Guard aron sa paghatod niini,” she added. (FREEMAN)