House raises P128M for typhoon aid

BAGUIO IMPACT Linemen of Benguet Electric Cooperative help clear a road and reconnect power lines on Thursday, a day after “Egay” also left serious damage in the summer capital. —Allan Macatuno

The House of Representatives on Thursday said it had raised P128.5 million in cash and in kind to help in the relief efforts for victims of Typhoon “Egay” in northern Luzon.

As he reported the latest figure, Speaker Martin Romualdez assured the public that “President Marcos is doing everything he can to assist, help and provide assistance to [the victims]. We want to make sure that at this time of extreme need, the people should feel that their government is with them.”

Bayanihan spirit

Romualdez was set to visit some of the worst-hit areas to personally oversee the relief operations today.

His wife, Tingog Sinirangan Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, said: “This is the same Bayanihan spirit that allowed Tacloban City and the Eastern seaboard to recover and bounce back from Supertyphoon Yolanda almost 10 years ago. Truly when we are united in our objectives, there is nothing we can’t do.”

Some P23.5 million of the P128.5 million raised by the House was from the Speaker’s personal calamity fund, including contributions from his friends during his birthday celebration last year.

The other P105 million would come from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

—Jeannette I. Andrade

RELATED STORY:

PCG reports 30 ‘casualties’ after motorbanca capsizes off Binangonan, Rizal