HON.MAYOR JAPAL J. GUIANI EFFORTS IN EXTENDING HELP TO FLOOD VICTIMS

Cotabato City (June 23, 2011) – The City Government of Cotabato City is doing all its best to attend to the needs of the 36,232 families or 107,771 individuals affected by the flooding. Of this figure, 27,380 are home-based or did not leave their houses despite being submerge in the flood waters, 5,193 are temporarily sheltered in public school buildings, 2,985 in tents and 674 in covered courts and other public structures.

Cotabato City Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr. said that the City Government has appropraited its calamity funds to sustain the relief operations.

Since June 10, the City Government has given some 3,700 bags of rice worth P4,625,000.00;  200 cases of sardines worth P228,000.00 and 200 boxes of noodles worth P100,000.00.

Other than relief goods, the City Government also purchased portable toilets (portalets) for the use in the evacuation centers.

Aside from the City Government, Guiani said, a number of non-government organizations have also extend their help.

Moreover, Senator Jinggoy Estrada gave some 4,800 packs of food stuffs to the evacuees housed at various evacuation centers last June 20. The senator promised to solicit more donations from his friends and other civic organizations in the National Capital Region.

On the other hand, Senator Chiz Escudero also gave his share of food donations.

On Friday, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and his wife, Congresswoman Lani Mercado Revilla, will be coming to Cotabato City to personally deliver their relief assistance to the flood victims.

Vice President Jejomar Binay will be sending tomorrow his donation 160 sacks of rice, 8,000 cans of sardines, 4,000 packs of biscuits and 800 boxes of noodles.

The regional office of the Department of Social welfare and Development (DSWD) has given the City Government 100 bags of rice for the affected families.

DSWD-12, has committed to give some 6,100 packs of assorted goods for the flood victims. Accordingly, The distribution will be handled by DSWD-12 starting last June 18. As of Wednesday (June22), the DSWD-12 has distributed a total of 2,600 food packs at the evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, in the common bid to unclog the Delta Bridge and Matampay Bridge of water hyacinths, the Liga ng mga Barangay, led by Councilor Abdillah Lim, have been undertaking “bayanihan” works. They are being backed up by volunteers from various non-government organizations in the city, including urban poor organizations.

The City Engineering Office has deployed all its heavy equipment, including backhoes, in the clearing of the water hyacinths.

Meanwhile, Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has committed to help the City Government in the clearing operation of the water hyacinths. Duterte will be lending the city some heavy equipments to be used in the operation.