MAYOR Evelio Leonardia said the City Government of Bacolod is set to donate P2-million financial assistance to several Luzon provinces badly affected by super typhoon “Rolly” and typhoons “Quinta” and “Ulysses.”

Leonardia said that it was by God’s grace that Bacolod was spared of these calamities wrought by climate change and it is the civic duty of citizens to reach out and help in whatever way to local government units in Luzon that have been hit hard by these typhoons that struck one after another.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Leonardia, approved the said financial assistance during its 4th Quarter Regular Meeting Thursday, November 19.

Also leading the meeting were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who chairs the Bacolod Inter-Agency Task Force on Covis-19, Executive Assistant Jose Ma. Vargas, and Bernadeth Montelibano, administrative officer of the City DRRMO.

The council also discussed the Covid-19 Pandemic Situationer Report, 4th Revision of DRRMF AIP 2020 for approval, Proposed DRRM AIP 2020, Update Bacolod City DRRM Plan for 2020-2022, inventory of available evacuation centers for non-Covid emergencies/disasters, and other matters.

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), led by Leonardia as the national president, will determine which LGUs will avail of the Bacolod donation after it will be combined with donations from other cities that will participate in the nationwide fund drive now being undertaken by the LCP.

Donation drive

Aside from the financial assistance, the City Government has also organized a drive to facilitate private sector donations in kind for typhoon-struck provinces, particularly Isabela, Cagayan and Tuguegarao.

This is through the Bayanihan Center located at the Tourism Satellite Office (near SM City).

City Assessor lawyer Maphilindo Polvora, who chairs the Food Committee of the Bayanihan Center, said donations in kind can be dropped off at the Bayanihan Center from Mondays to Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For inquiries, one can call the Bayanihan Center at (034) 2139332 or 0920-9003648.

In a related development, Councilor Ayesha Joy Villaflor, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Bacolod, with the help of Councilor Cindy Rojas, has organized a multi-sectoral donation campaign for victims of the recent typhoons. Villaflor has partnered with Saranggola Dream Project and PassFast, with the latter providing free shipping for the donations.

The donation drive of the Bacolod SK Federation led by Councilor Villaflor is strengthened by participating groups such as Akbayan Youth Bacolod-Akbayanihan, Samalaya-Sages USLS Bacolod, Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health, Dakila, TUP-V Student Council’s #Amliganay, Bar Café, Tao Gamma Phi, Rotaract Club Marapara, Rebolusyonaryong Alyansa Makabansa-Jhaguar Bacolod Chapter, Negros Unity Riders, NMRA Negros Motorcycle Riders Alliance, Bacolod 143 Alerts, Golden Hearts Movement, and Guinpana-an National High School-Poblacion Extension Supreme Student Government.

Donations in kind can be dropped off at Villaflor’s office on the 2nd floor of the Bacolod City Government Center.

Villaflor said they will ship the next donations on Monday, November 23.

For inquiries on how to donate through Villaflor’s office or if one wishes Villaflor’s staff pick up their donations, one can contact 0908-546-7135. (PR)