Mt. Province launches fund drive for typhoon victims

By Andrew Doga-ong

BONTOC, Mountain  Province --  The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRC) here has approved  P500,000 as initial assistance  in launching a fund-raising drive  for victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas.

In a special meeting of the PDRRMC and with suggestion of Gov. Leonard Mayaen, council members agreed to provide P500,000 from the Quick Response Fund of the province as initial support for identified local government units in the Visayas severely affected by the super typhoon.

The council also decided to solicit cash donations from government employees as well as workers of non-government organizations, business establishments and other generous groups and individuals of the province.  A fund raising committee was created responsible for the collection and proper recording of cash donations.

The committee is chaired by Pastor Jefferson Saguibal of the Mountain Province Ministers Association with members: Deacon ElvieTulingan of the Anglican Church, Carolyn Castaneda of the Roman Catholic Church and Arsenio Bolasco of the provincial government.

Cash donations can be deposited to the Land Bank of the Philippines, Account Number 1041-1491-20 and Account Name MP Assistance to Yolanda victims.

A separate depository account will also be opened at the Philippine National Bank.

Donors were advised to show their bank transaction slip to the committee for proper recording and acknowledgement.

PDRRMC donation drop boxes for typhoon Yolanda victims will also be placed in key establishments such as banks, cooperatives, churches and local government offices.

The council decided that to have a greater impact on the support the province is giving, the amount raised will be used to construct two health centers, one in severely affected barangays in Leyte and in Samar.

Mayaen said the province will also be sending one engineer to personally supervise implementation of the support in two barangays in coordination with local officials.

According to Mayaen, six UP Medical students from Mt. Province who are studying in Palo, Leyte and who escaped the wrath of the super typhoon, identified Barangay Limbohan, Tanaw, Leyte as one of the recipients.

The council will be coordinating with the local government of Samar for beneficiary barangay.

Students visited the governor’s office and narrated their experience when Typhoon Yolanda hit Leyte.

Appealing for donations for the typhoon victims, Mayaen and Sagada former mayor Thomas Killip  said this is to express the people of the province’s sympathy to  typhoon victims .

They added it is in the character of the people of the province to be of help particularly those adversely affected by disasters.

Mayaen advised other LGUs, schools, groups or offices who already initiated fund solicitations for the typhoon victims  to consolidate with  the PDRRMC fund raising drive saying these will all form part of the assistance coming from the people of the province.

The MDRRMC of Paracelis, with the approval of their Sangguniang Bayan appropriated P100,000 from  its  calamity reserve fund as assistance to typhoon victims.

The council said non-cash donations will be collected this January noting  that  many relief goods  are pouring in  to the devastated  areas now.