Mandaue eyes giving aid to storm-hit areas

CEBU, Philippines – The Mandaue City government will consider extending financial assistance to southern towns badly affected by tropical storm Seniang.

Mayor Jonas Cortes made the announcement after a meeting with city administrator James Abadia and other city officials Monday afternoon.

According to Cortes, he will ask authority from the City Council to extend the financial assistance, adding he is optimistic that the council will give the proposal a green light.

Cortes said the exact amount and the towns will be identified based on the damages they sustained from the typhoon.

Cortes said he was informed that the Cebu City government will extend financial help to the affected towns.

“Kita sad sa Mandaue mopaabot usab sa atong hinabang kay nakita man nato kun unsa kapait ang atong mga kaigsoonan sa mga apektado nga lungsod,” he said.

Yesterday, the city lent its water tanker to the municipality of Ronda to help the town in its supply of potable water.

Felix Suico, head of the City Risk Reduction and Management Office, yesterday said the city government sent the tanker yesterday after a nun who is a friend of city administrator James Abadia informed him of the plight of the residents in the town.

Suico said the water tanker will stay in town for three days, enough for the residents to fully get rid of their water wells with mud.

The water tanker which Mandaue will lend to Ronda can be filled with 50,000 to 75,000 liters of water, according to Suico.

Mandaue City initially gave relief goods to the local government of Ronda, including the 50 sacks of rice, 50 cartons of assorted canned goods and 50 cartons of noodles.

Cortes also recalled that the city government also extended financial assistance to the different towns in northern Cebu and Leyte affected by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.