Northern Luzon relief drive aids 5,535 Ompong victims

By Freddie Lazaro 

STA. ANA, Cagayan — Emergency relief operations being undertaken by Bangon Northern Luzon in six provinces hardest hit by Super Typhoon “Ompong” have already benefited a total of 5,535 families, a spokesman for the operations said.

In Cagayan, which bore the brunt of Ompong’s more than 200-kph center winds that cut a wide swath of destruction, a total of 2,535 families each received a pack of relief goods, according to spokesman Joseph Garcia of the lead organization, Andres P. Tamayo S. Foundation Inc. (APTSFI).

The relief operations also served 1,000 families in Ilocos Sur; 1,000 in each of the provinces of Mountain Province and Benguet; and 500 each in Apayao and Abra, Garcia said in a press statement.

The relief drive in aid of typhoon victims has accepted donations in kind valued at more than P1.2 million pesos as of September 27, Garcia revealed, thanking the donors “for their generosity in spirit and genuine concern for typhoon victims.”

Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon and Administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority Raul L. Lambino is coordinating the continuing post-typhoon relief effort.

“The emergency relief operation means a lot to our people in communities that are struggling to recover from the destruction,” said Lambino.

Bangon Northern Luzon released the list of donors broken down as follows: Manilacocker Club Inc (P500,000), Ferdinand Domingo (P100,000), CEZA (P100,000), Alfredo Pontejos Jr. (P10,000), CFL Missionary Group (P7,000), Emy Gallevo (P5,000), Robert and Imelda Sison (P3,000), Ruby Borja (P2,000); Association for Philippine-China Understanding (P525.60 and P160,000), ABS NGO (c/o Rep. Catallina Pizzaro, P22,403.48), Enrique Gonzales (P37,852.50), Pancho Lopez Tan (P2,500) and Puregold Mindanao Avenue Branch (P14,000).