Cagayan gov to donate savings to storm victims

By Liezle Basa Iñigo

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — Gov. Manuel Mamba has appealed to provincial government employees to support his decision to set aside government savings for the benefit of the thousands of victims of super-typhoon “Lawin” recently who are faced with a gloomy Christmas.

“Think of the 26,000 families whose houses have been destroyed or damaged. I received text messages on complaints about money, bonuses,” Mamba said in Filipino. “If the past administration gave you all the perks, not in my administration. Let me remind you, you are a public servant more than anything else.”

The governor said permanent employees insisting for additional bonus from the provincial government’s savings should be cognizant of how badly devastated thousands of their provincemates have been after the onslaught of Lawin.

“God created Lawin to unite us and not divide us; to help each other; to build each other. Let us help others without hesitation for it is in giving that we find more joy and peace,” he said.

As Cagayan continues to recover from the aftermath of super typhoon Lawin last Oct., the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated P4.5 million to help the calamity-affected sugar workers of the province.

In a department order, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello, III said the fund will be sourced from their Socio-Economic-Projects Funds (SERF) to provide temporary emergency employment for the affected sugar workers in Piat, Cagayan.

“The P4,504,500 fund shall be utilized in paying the wages of the identified sugar worker beneficiaries for the 150-day mini community works,” Bello said. -- With a report from Samuel P. Medenilla