Baguio forms body to monitor aid efforts for 'Yolanda' victims

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The city government has created the Baguio City Task Force Yolanda to coordinate relief efforts for the victims of the super typhoon.

Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan designated Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas to head the task force with city social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan as action officer through Administrative Order No. 197, citing the need to coordinate the various relief activities being initiated by numerous individuals and groups in the city to ensure that the assistance will reach the intended destination in an effective and efficient manner.

The measure has been implemented amid reports that some people have started fake donation schemes to collect money for their own pockets in the city.

Also,  copycat “campaign t-shirts” by a television network  are being sold in the city.

“The growing concern of everyone to the welfare of those affected by the onslaught of the national calamity is laudable thus there is an urgent need to immediately establish a functional and proper system of managing all donations and assistance parallel to the intention and purpose of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in directing the establishment of donations desk in the national, regional, city, provincial and municipal levels,” Domogan said.

Earlier, City Councilor Peter Fianza proposed the task force creation,  noting the need for a central body to oversee the relief operations and prevent abuse.

The task force will take charge of maintaining a record of all solicitations or donations received or collected in the city and delivered or transmitted to intended destinations.

It is expected to recommend activities or actions that may be undertaken or assisted by the city in line with the missions and submit periodic activity reports.
          
The task force will also be responsible for verifying reports on constituents of the city and of neighboring local governments who were also affected by the typhoon and recommend such possible assistance that the city can extend to the victims, to their families or concerned local governments.
         
The members of the task force are the chair of the city council committee on education, the OCD-CAR regional director, city director of the Department of Interior and Local Government Baguio field office, city accountant, city health officer, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) presidents, Philippine National Red Cross Baguio administrator, Baguio City Police Office director, Baguio Fire Department fire marshal, Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club president, Baguio-Benguet Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and BB-PICAG president.  The staff of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Disaster Operations Center will serve as secretariat.
          
The Baguio City council also on Monday appropriated P500,000 as cash aid to affected areas.