Cebu extends help to victims

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is extending a helping hand to the flood-stricken cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Northern Mindanao.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday promised to extend relief and financial assistance.

The Cebu City government through Mayor Michael Rama is also appropriating P5 million to be given to the affected local government units.

Garcia said that she has ordered the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office to procure water, which is one of the most immediate needs of the flood victims. The governor said that Bob Gothong of Gothong Southern Shipping has offered to transport relief assistance.

 “We will be coordinating with Gothong Southern Lines para pahatud dayon aning ila gikinahanglang tubig,” Garcia said adding that dry goods will follow.

Garcia said that PSWDO is coordinating with their counterpart in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro to determine the extent of assistance needed.

 She also expects some companies in Cebu to donate relief assistance.

 Typhoon Sendong has already claimed more than 600 lives and hundreds remain missing.

The government and the Philippine National Red Cross appealed for help to feed, clothe and house more than 35,000 people huddled in evacuation centers as soldiers battled to recover bodies.

A military force of 20,000 men and women has been mobilized in a huge rescue and relief operation.

In order to quell the need for drinking water, the city government of Cagayan de Oro opened up fire hydrants where the residents are now queuing for drinking water.

Cebu city’s help

The Cebu City Government is willing to shell out up to P5 million from its calamity funds as cash donation to the cities seriously affected by typhoon Sendong in Mindanao and Negros Oriental.

Mayor Michael Rama announced this yesterday after he got assurance from the Budget Officer that the city still has P11 million in unused calamity funds.

Rama said the City Budget Office and the City Treasurer’s Office will work on the immediate release of the funds following Commission on Audit guidelines.

He said he hopes the city can give more than P5 million considering the extent of the damage that typhoon Sendong has caused to Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and some areas in Negros Oriental.

“I hope we can increase the amount. We still have P11 million unused calamity funds pero dili sad nato hutdon tanan kay wala pa man mahuman ang tuig. We never know, we might need it,” Rama said.

The city government, as mandated by law, has set aside five percent of its total annual budget as calamity funds to be used during times of emergencies such as typhoons, earthquakes, fire and other disasters.

Next year, the city government will have over P250 million in calamity funds, which represents five percent of its 2012 Annual Budget.

Mobile morgue

Aside from the cash assistance, the city government will be transporting immediately to Mindanao the mobile morgue, now stationed at the Cebu International Port, to assist the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in managing the remains of the victims recovered after the flash flood.

“I’ve spoken with the officials of Cagayan and Iligan and I was told that the common problem is how to deal with the dead. I was told nga sa mga morgue didto, nagpatong-patong na ang patay,” Rama said.

To recall, the mobile morgue was used by the International Police to process the retrieved bodies of the victims of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars. It was then turned over by Interpol to the city government.

“As we had experienced it before during the Princess of the Stars incident, we know that the smell of the dead bodies in due time will be beyond anybody can imagine. So we will help them,” Rama said.

The mobile morgue to be deployed will not only processes the remains but will be used for the identification of the victims because the city will also send volunteer doctors and forensic medical examiners.

Rama said the morgue will be deployed once Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., which volunteered to ship the facility to Mindanao, is ready to do so.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Alvin Santillana will also be sent together with the Office of the Civil Defense to assess the situation.

Mayor Rama said that additional help might be determined by the result of the assessment.

The city government, in partnership with private sectors including JCI Inc. and McDonald’s is also gathering donated clothes and goods, including cash to be given to the victims of typhoon Sendong.

PNP scraps party

Police Regional Office -7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. decided to cancel their Christmas Party today in order to donate the funds to the victims of the floods instead.

“PRO-7 will not hold its traditional Christmas Party tomorrow (today). Instead, it will donate the money to the victims of Typhoon Sendong,” said Garbo.

“We cannot in conscience celebrate and hold a Christmas party, while thousands of our countrymen in Negros Oriental and Northern Mindanao are suffering in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong,” he added.

Garbo also directed PRO-7 Comptroller, Supt. Benjamin Santos to prepare the budget, which was supposedly for today’s Christmas party, to buy basic goods and food items to be distributed to affected families in Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. — with Ryan Christopher J. Sorote/NLQ (FREEMAN)