BACOLOD City – The provincial government will extend aid to provinces in Luzon that suffered from the wrath of super typhoon “Ompong.”
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the provincial government will do this to “thank God Almighty” for sparing Negros Occidental from the strongest storm to hit the country so far this year.
“We should be thankful to God that we were not affected by the typhoon,” he added.
Marañon said Negros Occidental will give cash donations to storm-hit provinces, like Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya.
The governor said he will request members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to authorize him to release the funds for the donation.
Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson supported Marañon, adding that “it is better to give than to receive.”
Lacson said it is not the first time Negros Occidental will give aid to areas that suffered from calamities.
He added that his office will coordinate with the Office of the Governor when the funds are already released.
Meanwhile, as the government mobilizes its resources to help communities ravaged by “Ompong” in Northern Luzon, the Philippine Army (PA) said six of its Russian-made cargo trucks have transported 822 sacks of rice donated by Davao City to Cagayan.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Louie Villanueva, said the vehicles also carried relief goods.
“The PA had exerted all effort for interventions in coordination with concerned government agencies to save precious lives and properties,” he added.
Villanueva added that during post-disaster response operations, the PA also played a key role in disaster relief by transporting relief goods and basic subsistence badly needed by affected communities.
He added that the Army has the mandate to support the government as part of its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief initiatives to mitigate the impact of disasters. (With a report from the Philippine News Agecy/PN)
