THE Davao City Government has donated P1.5 million for areas in Cebu affected by the dry spell.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was represented by City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) chief Alfredo Baloran during the turnover of the check at the regional operation center of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in Mandaue City on Thursday morning, April 25.
The city’s DRRMO had tapped the help of the PRC in the cash assistance distribution.
Cebu Provincial DRRMO chief Baltazar Tribunalo said P400,000 of the financial aid will be given to the Capitol, while the cities of Talisay and Carcar will get P300,000 each.
The Cebu City Government will get P500,000.
According to Tribunalo, the Capitol will use the P400,000 to rent trucks that will deliver water to places that lack water supply, and to purchase water tanks and containers, and water pumps.
The PDRRMO is waiting for the delivery of 4,000 sacks of rice, canned goods, barrels, containers and big generator sets that can suck water. These will be distributed to the islets in Daanbantayan and Bantayan Island.
Baloran said Carpio saw the need to help other areas affected by the weather phenomenon El Niño.
The presidential daughter asked the Davao City Council, which passed a resolution allocating a budget for the aid.
Baloran said they channeled the fund to the PRC because of the ban that prohibits the release of public funds during the election period.
The financial assistance will be given to places that were declared under a state of calamity.
Aside from Cebu, Baloran said they will give aid to the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod.
He said El Niño has had little effect in Davao City, which still experiences rain every now and then. (From SCG of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)