CH, Capitol to send aid to Luzon

THE Cebu Provincial Capitol and the Cebu City Government will provide aid to areas affected by heavy flooding in Luzon.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the City Government will give P5-million financial assistance.

The money will be coursed through the Philippine Red Cross, which will distribute the amount to the victims.

Rama said the amount will be taken from the calamity fund of Cebu City.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has directed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to prepare assistance in kind for the flooding victims.

Flooded areas

Garcia has instructed Marivic Garces, head of the PSWDO, to contact officials of the affected areas, cities and provinces.

Among the flooded areas is the Province of Laguna. Garcia said Laguna and Cebu signed a sisterhood agreement last July 30.

Garcia said they would also consider extending financial assistance. As of now, they want to give items that the flood victims need immediately, like rice.

While distributing relief goods in Metro Manila, Rep. Luigi Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) called on fellow Cebuanos to extend help to “our brothers and sisters hit by floods.”

“I feel that, as a nation, we must all pull together to help out,” the congressman said, as he urged Cebuanos to donate food, warm clothes and clean water for the evacuation centers.

The Cebuano congressman is in Metro Manila for the session slated last Aug. 6. But that night up to Tuesday, heavy rains battered the metropolis.

Relief goods

That Tuesday the congressman waded through the floods, as the session in the House of Representatives was suspended, to bring in relief goods to Marikina, through Rep. Miro Quimbo (Marikina, second district).

With what happened in Metro Manila, he said, climate change is something the Cebuanos have to contend with and always be prepared for.

Quisumbing also extended assistance and donated relief goods last Aug. 7 to flood victims in San Juan and Mandaluyong.

The congressman urged both government agencies and the LGUs to strengthen its capacities in responding to emergency situations and disasters.

He also asked the public to always be prepared for any contingency.

“We have seen how devastating these torrential rains and floods can become in such a short period of time,” he said.

Emergency kits

The congressman urged Cebuanos to monitor events carefully and have emergency kits stocked with essential items such as food, water, medicines, flashlights and warm clothes.

It is also very important to comply with evacuation instructions immediately so as not to complicate rescue efforts.

Some residents earlier refused to leave their homes despite the repeated warnings of rising waters. But eventually, the residents sought the help of rescuers when things got worse.

Work resumed yesterday Aug. 8, but sessions in the Lower House remained suspended.

Meanwhile, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (third district, Cebu) urged people not to go along with suggestions that because of the Reproductive Health Bill, Luzon is experiencing heavy floods.

The congressman, who is against of the RH bill but voted “yes” for the termination of the interpellation and debate, said everyone should respect the victims of the flood.

“Let’s not trivialize their suffering by putting or injecting pro- and anti-RH debate,” Pablo John said.