PRESIDENTIAL candidate Richard Gordon lauded Davao City for having given the biggest amount of donation to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) for typhoon victims last year.
Gordon, who is also PNRC chair, was accompanied by his running mate, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando during a courtesy call on the City Council Tuesday.
Gordon said the local government donated a total of P14,480,000 cash.
"We are grateful to say that P10 million came from your local government under the leadership of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte while the P480,000, I understand, came from the City Council's salary. What a commendable show of altruism and true enough when the leaders do it first the people follow," Gordon said.
Gordon said cash donations coming from residents rose up to P3,783,129.70, thus a total of P14,263,129.70.
In addition, P1,216,207.20 worth of goods and food items were also donated by city residents, Gordon said.
"There were other donations given to the Red Cross, some even came from outside the country but I'm glad na ang tumapat sa kanila ay isang syudad sa loob ng Pilipinas down south, the biggest city in the world with the biggest heart, Davao City," he said.
Fernando also thanked local officials for his city, Marikina, were among the areas most affected by the typhoons.
"We needed to clean up the streets as soon as possible to prevent the spread of diseases and for the return of normalcy in the people’s lives affected by the calamity and we were able to do that in 30 days," Fernando said.
Gordon also commended the performance of PNRC-Davao Chapter under the leadership of Tony Uy.
"You're very well equipped here, thanks to Mr. Tony Uy. You're the only local chapter outside Manila who has a rescue truck in case of emergencies," Gordon said.
"And it has also come to my understanding that the City Council recently passed an ordinance institutionalizing a blood donation drive in barangays, many thanks to our councilors here," Gordon said, referring to the ordinance authored by Councilor Pilar Braga who is also a board member of PNRC-Davao Chapter.