Capitol to provide assistance to Naga flood victims

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday said the provincial government will give assistance to the three young siblings and their grandmother who were swept by a flashflood in the mountain Barangay of Cogon in Naga town Sunday afternoon.

Reports had it that 55-year-old Agripina Paran and her three grandchildren were walking along the Guindarohan River when a sudden flash of waters hit them.

Agripina and 12-year-old Reynan managed to hold on to the rocks but 13-year-old Cris was found dead a kilometer away while their 8-year-old sibling was only found yesterday in Cuaming Island, Inabanga, Bohol.

Garcia yesterday announced she have already signed the recommendation coming from the Provincial Social Welfare Office to give assistance in kind and cash assistance of P5,000 pesos for each of the casualties.

The governor also said that if reports were true that a quarry has something to do with the flooding, the residents of the area should write a petition letter and submit it to the pro-vincial government so that they can call the attention of the quarry operators and ask them to help in the rehabilitation of the road or even perhaps let them make a box culvert or a spill-way.

She urged them to write their petition first because she wanted to talk with the residents of the place and even to the barangay captain and the mayor, so that they can check who the quarry operators are and call their attention.

Meanwhile, Garcia also announced that the Capitol will also give a "governor's citation" to the 9-year-old Kahtleen Taypin for surrendering P50,000 to the Badian Police station last Thursday.

The money was believed to be part of the P1.5 million loot that the three robbers have stolen from a spa in Lapu-Lapu City last week.

Garcia said she is glad that the Grade 3 pupil has shown a good example to her peers and even grownups.

She added that she really commends the girl's parents for raising her so well.

Aside from the rice and canned goods that were initially given to Taypin's family, the governor said she will invite the girl to come to her office this week to extend to her the gover-nor's citation, including the P10,000 cash, school uniforms and school supplies for being a good example of a Cebuano's honesty. (FREEMAN)