2 Luzon provinces give calamity funds to Bohol

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The provincial governments of Pangasinan and Benguet are extending financial help to Bohol.

The provincial board of Pangasinan has passed a resolution authorizing the donation of P2 million from Pangasinan’s calamity fund to earthquake victims in Bohol.

“We are privileged to share some of our resources with other provinces that need to be assisted,” said Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, presiding officer of the board.

In Benguet, the provincial board also endorsed Gov. Nestor Fongwan’s request to extend a P200,000 financial assistance to Bohol from Benguet’s calamity fund.

“The amount of P200,000 is small compared to what Bohol needs for rehabilitation. But we want to help even if we do not have much funds,” Fongwan said.

Officials of Pangasinan and Benguet said they chose to pour the assistance to Bohol because it needs more help than Cebu, which was also hit by the Oct. 15 earthquake.

“We remember that when we were the ones who needed help, following the 1990 earthquake and the aftermath of Typhoon ‘Pepeng’ in 2009, many provinces extended help. We ought to return the favor,” Fongwan said.

He said Benguet officials had suggested sending vegetables to earthquake victims in Bohol but they dropped the plan since transporting these perishable goods would be hard.

“We also thought of sending some of our local produce to Bohol but we cannot handle the transportation. The vegetables might get spoiled before they reach Bohol,” he said. Yolanda Sotelo and Kimberlie Quitasol, Inquirer Northern Luzon