2013, November


Ilocanos donate cash, goodies to ‘Yolanda’ victims

Gruesome images of dead bodies and washed out buildings and houses in the Visayas moved Ilocanos to shell out some of their savings, extra clothes and supplies to help supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims.

Led by Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos who celebrated her birthday on November 12 with a mass and a special prayer for the victims, individuals and groups of Ilocanos here continue to raise funds and collect donations here and abroad to send assistance in Tacloban and other typhoon-devastated areas in the Visayas.

“We continue to be blessed. Maswerte pa rin tayo at patuloy tayong inililigtas ng panginoon sa lahat ng pinsala,” said Marcos as Ilocos Norte province also was hardly-hit by recent typhoon “Vinta”, incurring about a hundred million peso damages in agriculture and infrastructure projects with one dead and two injured.

The Marcos family, aside from the financial assistance to be taken out from the Ilocos Norte government fund will also give personal monetary contribution to Leyte, where relatives and friends of Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (2nd district, Ilocos Norte) reside. Specific amount however was not disclosed.

Sympathizing with survivors of killer supertyphoon “Yolanda”, Sharon Aliga, an Ilocano domestic worker from Calgary, Canada sent her savings from last month’s salary to help out survivors. Other overseas Filipino workers and immigrants are also pouring out donations to send to the Philippines.

“I hope their experience in the Visayas will not happen to our place,” said Aliga while praying for the safety and fast recovery of typhoon survivors.

Like in previous time, P/Sr. Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, acting provincial director of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office said each police station in the province are also obliged to give donations to them.

“Mas mabuti na ‘yung magbigay kaysa sa tumanggap ng tulong,” Ratuita said. In Laoag City, Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas said the city government has set aside at least P50,000 as financial aid to Yolanda victims.

Meanwhile, the Batac City government in cooperation with the League of Cities of the Philippines is still assessing the situation with their incoming sister cities in Baybay, Leyte, Catbalogan and Borongan in Samar so they could find a way to reach out and help them out.

“We are still assessing their situation and find a way to help them. When we say sisterhood, we should not observe only in terms of joy but most importantly in times of disaster,” said Batac Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta.

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