THE Cebu City Government expressed willingness to assist the victims of flooding in Manila, like it did for places struck by typhoon Frank last year.

With at least 25 Luzon provinces under a state of calamity after typhoon Ondoy, the City Government readied since Saturday some rescue volunteers who were placed on standby for the signal to fly to Manila and help.

The Aboitiz Group of Companies announced it is accepting donations for the flood victims.

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“Non-perishable items (preferably canned goods, clothes, powdered milk) are accepted in all 2GO outlets in Cebu as well as in Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga.

We will consolidate the donations and turn them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” said Sebastian Lacson, Aboitiz Equity Ventures chief reputation officer.

Cebu City Hall Information Officer Nagiel Bañacia said that City Hall and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf) assembled a team of paramedics and rescue volunteers who may be sent to Manila.

The team is just waiting for Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is on leave, to give them the signal to go and help in the rescue operations.

Osmeña, though, decided against sending the team yesterday.

Bañacia said the mayor argued that the seat of the national government is in Manila and it can take care of the victims.

“Sakto sad kay the problem may be coordination and mobilization of the team,” Bañacia said.

The mayor, he said, was concerned that if something happens in Cebu, Eruf’s rescuers would not be here to help.

The team is standing by just in case it will be called to leave for Metro Manila.

“Cebu City will always extend assistance. We will assist if needed. If our services are needed, dili ta mobalibad,” said Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo. He is the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) action officer.

As of yesterday afternoon, he said, there was no untoward incident reported to the CDCC as a result of strong winds and rain Cebu is also experiencing as an effect of the typhoon.

Each of the city’s barangay disaster coordinating councils is also monitoring its jurisdiction, particularly the risk-prone areas, like the banks of rivers or creeks and hilly places that are vulnerable to landslides.

After typhoon Frank struck in June last year, the Cebu City Government promised to help. It gave last Feb. 4 at least P1.7 million as financial assistance.

Eleven towns and three cities were promised the financial assistance last July 2008 yet, but only three cities and three towns received the aid right away.

The other places received theirs later, with then Acting Mayor Michael Rama explaining that the documentation and the lengthy process of disbursing public funds delayed the aid. (RHM)