Erap distributes relief goods to Romblon folk

Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada distributed yesterday 7,000 bags of relief goods to victims of typhoon “Frank” in Romblon, one of the hardest-hit provinces.

Estrada also called on the top 100 corporations in the country to raise funds to help residents of Romblon rebuild their houses.

“I am appealing to the country’s top corporations to act on their corporate social responsibility and help raise funds to assist the victims of typhoon Frank and help them buy construction materials, medicine and food,” he said.

Estrada visited the municipalities of San Fernando and Cajidiocan on Sibuyan Island.

Accompanied by San Fernando Mayor Nenette Tansingco, Estrada distributed 4,000 bags of relief goods at the San Fernando Multi-Purpose Complex as well as 1,000 school kits at the San Fernando Central Elementary School.

Estrada also turned over 1,600 bags of relief goods and 500 school kits to Mayor Ibarra Manzala of Magdiwang town.

He also distributed 1,500 bags of relief goods to typhoon victims in Cajidiocan town.

“This is a time of great need for our people so we should set politics aside for now and do all that we can to assist the victims of typhoon Frank. Now is not the time to point fingers or to look for whom to blame. What we need to do right now is to pull together all our efforts and do everything we can to assist those who are most in need,” he said.

Estrada’s spokeswoman Margaux Salcedo said Estrada was deeply affected by the typhoon damage that he saw when he visited Iloilo and Aklan.

Salcedo said Estrada did not have second thoughts when Romblon Gov. Jojo Beltran sought his assistance.

Salcedo said a large part of the relief goods that Estrada distributed in Romblon came from his friends.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council said Frank’s death toll has reached over 600 and the howler destroyed over 80,000 houses, displacing over 800,000 families or 4.1 million people.