Ormoc seeks help from Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez is seeking the help of the Cebu Provincial government in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of their city.

Governor Hilario Davide III said Gomez personally asked him if the Capitol could also provide help to Ormoc like what it did to Kananga, Leyte.

“He said that they needed help. I asked the Provincial Board if we could (give some assistance),” Davide said.

He said Ormoc City was initially not part of the list of local government units that Cebu Province will give financial assistance.

“Wa man initially ang Ormoc. We thought nga okay sila but Mayor Gomez told me nga dunay affected sa mountain barangays,” Davide said.

Gomez told Davide that at least 2,000 families were displaced after the earthquake hit Leyte last month. Recovery and rehabilitation efforts are now ongoing.

During their brief meeting, Davide and Gomez discussed possible partnership between Cebu province and Ormoc in disaster capacity building wherein both local government units can conduct joint operations during calamities.

Davide personally handed over the P1 million cash assistance to the local government of Kananga in Leyte last Wednesday.

The town was the epicenter of the magnitude 6.5 quake last month. It is also where the geothermal power plant which supplies power in Central Visayas is located. The earthquake not only disrupted power supply in the region but also left damages to lives and property.

“Ang atong tinguha mao ang pagtabang sa atong silingang probinsiya. Kinsa man ang magtinabangay, mga silingan raman. Maong dako kaayo nakong kalipay nga anaa mi karon dinhi,” Davide said.

The governor shared that the people of Kananga were grateful for the help.

“Nakita nako nga atol sa among kalisdanan aduna gyud diay daghang mga tawo nga andam motabang kanato,” said Kananga Mayor Rowena Codilla after the turnover.

In appreciation for Cebu, Kananga passed a resolution “expressing profound gratitude for the province’s compassion in extending aid to their town.”

Both Kananga and Ormoc are under a ‘state of calamity’ after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the proclamation last August 7.

Last March, the Cebu provincial government also extended aid to Surigao del Norte, which was jolted by the magnitude 6.7 quake. Cebu also gave P1 million financial assistance to the war-torn city of Marawi last week. (FREEMAN)