Jasmin Uy Labacoco and Garry Lao (The Freeman News) Updated September 29, 2009 12:00 AM
Cebu, Philippines- The Cebuanos, who have been spared from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy, are doing their share of offering assistance to our countrymen in Luzon, who have been most affected by the flooding.
The local government units, civic organizations, businesses, and even groups of private individuals are pooling their resources to send immediate aid to Manila and neighboring areas.
Cebu City’s Booths
The Cebu City Government through its Disaster Coordinating Council has put up booths at Fuente Osmeña to receive donations.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that the city hopes to send out food, clothing and blankets to the flood victims.
He also encouraged Cebuanos to be prepared for disasters all the time.
Cash Assistance
The Provincial Government will also be giving cash assistance to the affected local government units.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that this is not the first time that the province is doing this.
“It will considerably be higher than what we have given in the past. Its magnitude is unexpected and unbelievable,” Garcia said.
In 2006, Garcia also extended financial assistance amounting to P12 million to victims calamities in Metro Manila, but it was coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The province also gave out P8 million to four provinces that were badly hit by typhoon Frank last year.
Gov. Garcia explained that she has made it a matter of policy to always reach out to help “our brothers and sisters in need.”
Cebu also previously gave assistance to Southern Leyte during the landslide that buried parts of Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, and also to typhoon victims in Mindoro.
“I really sympathize with them. I, myself is a chief executive officer so I understand them. This is a way of showing my sympathy and support,” Garcia said yesterday.
Drop Off Points
Those who would like to give donations that drop them off at various locations.
The pre-departure area of the Mactan Cebu International Airport is one of these places.
Staff from the public affairs office of the MCIA will be issuing receipts for the donations.
Radio station Y101-FM has also set up a donation reception counter at the Gaisano Country Mall where a 20-footer container van is being filled up.
Once filled, this van will be brought to Manila by forwarding company 2Go of the Aboitiz group.
Several alumni organizations including those of arch rivals La Salle and Ateneo are also pooling their resources together to offer help.
In the egroups of the two alumni associations, the members are appealing for donations and are coordinating in sending them to Manila.
Media organizations in Cebu are also helping out.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is also offering to airlift relief goods to Manila for free.
All provincial PAL stations will load on flights bound for Manila any bulk cargo box containing donations addressed to reputable, non-profit, charitable organizations in Manila.
To maximize the cargo load of the aircraft, PAL station heads will be verifying and limiting the contents of the donation boxes to items of value and use, and exclude such donations as expired food and medicines, water, rice (due to weight considerations) and unusable stuff.
Complete information of the consignee organization must be supplied with the cargo box/container inscribed with “care of the PAL Foundation”.
Meanwhile, PAL passengers whose flights were affected by typhoon Ondoy will not be charged any penalties when re booking for the next available flights.
PAL ticket holders with confirmed bookings from September 26 to October 4 will have all penalties waived when rebooking.
Eye-Opener
Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez, who heads the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council is reminding all agencies under the RDCC to step up their monitoring.
Nerez issued this directive so that the agencies would be better prepared for any eventuality.
Sen. Pia Cayetano’s view
Senator Pia Cayetano thanked the Cebuanos for the concerted effort to offer assistance to the typhoon victims in Luzon.
She is filing a bill for an emergency fund to help rehabilitate and neutralize the damage during calamities.
Cayetano was in Cebu yesterday to grace the Barangay Health Workers Summit held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. — With Mitchelle Palaubsanon and Gabriel Bonjoc/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)
Cebu, Philippines- The Cebuanos, who have been spared from the wrath of typhoon Ondoy, are doing their share of offering assistance to our countrymen in Luzon, who have been most affected by the flooding.
The local government units, civic organizations, businesses, and even groups of private individuals are pooling their resources to send immediate aid to Manila and neighboring areas.
Cebu City’s Booths
The Cebu City Government through its Disaster Coordinating Council has put up booths at Fuente Osmeña to receive donations.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that the city hopes to send out food, clothing and blankets to the flood victims.
He also encouraged Cebuanos to be prepared for disasters all the time.
Cash Assistance
The Provincial Government will also be giving cash assistance to the affected local government units.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that this is not the first time that the province is doing this.
“It will considerably be higher than what we have given in the past. Its magnitude is unexpected and unbelievable,” Garcia said.
In 2006, Garcia also extended financial assistance amounting to P12 million to victims calamities in Metro Manila, but it was coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The province also gave out P8 million to four provinces that were badly hit by typhoon Frank last year.
Gov. Garcia explained that she has made it a matter of policy to always reach out to help “our brothers and sisters in need.”
Cebu also previously gave assistance to Southern Leyte during the landslide that buried parts of Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, and also to typhoon victims in Mindoro.
“I really sympathize with them. I, myself is a chief executive officer so I understand them. This is a way of showing my sympathy and support,” Garcia said yesterday.
Drop Off Points
Those who would like to give donations that drop them off at various locations.
The pre-departure area of the Mactan Cebu International Airport is one of these places.
Staff from the public affairs office of the MCIA will be issuing receipts for the donations.
Radio station Y101-FM has also set up a donation reception counter at the Gaisano Country Mall where a 20-footer container van is being filled up.
Once filled, this van will be brought to Manila by forwarding company 2Go of the Aboitiz group.
Several alumni organizations including those of arch rivals La Salle and Ateneo are also pooling their resources together to offer help.
In the egroups of the two alumni associations, the members are appealing for donations and are coordinating in sending them to Manila.
Media organizations in Cebu are also helping out.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is also offering to airlift relief goods to Manila for free.
All provincial PAL stations will load on flights bound for Manila any bulk cargo box containing donations addressed to reputable, non-profit, charitable organizations in Manila.
To maximize the cargo load of the aircraft, PAL station heads will be verifying and limiting the contents of the donation boxes to items of value and use, and exclude such donations as expired food and medicines, water, rice (due to weight considerations) and unusable stuff.
Complete information of the consignee organization must be supplied with the cargo box/container inscribed with “care of the PAL Foundation”.
Meanwhile, PAL passengers whose flights were affected by typhoon Ondoy will not be charged any penalties when re booking for the next available flights.
PAL ticket holders with confirmed bookings from September 26 to October 4 will have all penalties waived when rebooking.
Eye-Opener
Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez, who heads the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council is reminding all agencies under the RDCC to step up their monitoring.
Nerez issued this directive so that the agencies would be better prepared for any eventuality.
Sen. Pia Cayetano’s view
Senator Pia Cayetano thanked the Cebuanos for the concerted effort to offer assistance to the typhoon victims in Luzon.
She is filing a bill for an emergency fund to help rehabilitate and neutralize the damage during calamities.
Cayetano was in Cebu yesterday to grace the Barangay Health Workers Summit held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. — With Mitchelle Palaubsanon and Gabriel Bonjoc/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)
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