ARMM's 'Little Congress' donates cash, relief supplies for 'Yolanda' victims

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Members of the “Little Congress” of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Monday donated cash and relief supplies to the Red Cross for distribution to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Hainan) in the Visayas.

The cash and relief donations were turned over to Bai Fatima Sinsuat, chairperson of the Red Cross chapter here, by members of the 24-seat Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) representing Speaker Datu Ronnie Sinsuat.

Sinsuat, who has been working for the Red Cross since the early 1970s, said she will have the donations immediately delivered to their counterparts in Leyte.

“We are thankful to the RLA for extending help to the victims of typhoon Yolanda,” Sinsuat told RLA members present in the simple turn over rite held at their session hall inside the 32-hectare ARMM compound here.

The RLA is comprised of 24 lawmakers, three from each of the seven congressional districts in the autonomous region.

Sinsuat said the Red Cross is grateful to many Muslim local officials who had promptly responded to the humanitarian crisis in Leyte, among them the provincial governors of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces, and Gov. Mujiv Hataman of ARMM.

Sinsuat said Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu had provided two truckloads of frozen Tilapia harvested from the Lake Buluan, and several truckloads of food, non-food relief supplies, and medicines to thousands of typhoon victims in Tacloban City and adjoining towns.

She said Mangudadatu’s cousin, Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu, also extended help to Leyte residents through the Red Cross.