Local gov’ts in Luzon send aid

RELIEF ITEMS Policemen carry relief items for survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Leyte province, which arrived at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

BAGUIO CITY—Local governments and private groups in northern and central Luzon have set aside cash and used clothes for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas.

In Pangasinan, the provincial government will send P4 million to Leyte province and Tacloban City to help in relief and rehabilitation efforts there.

Provincial administrator Rafael Baraan said the provincial board had approved the allocation of P2 million each for Leyte and Tacloban. “We will send the check within the week,” he said.

As an expression of sympathy to the victims, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has ordered the cancellation of the yearly Christmas party for provincial employees, Baraan said. “We cannot be celebrating here while the people of Leyte and other provinces in the Visayas are suffering from the devastation.”

The provincial employees are also collecting used clothes to be sent to the victims.

In Baguio City, the local government has allotted P500,000 in relief assistance, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said on Monday. “The money will be added to the P500,000 we allotted earlier for the victims of the Bohol earthquake,” he said.

The city is also donating used clothes seized from unregistered “ukay-ukay” vendors in the city.

The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) on Monday began a weeklong telethon over television network CLTV 36 to raise funds for the victims in the Visayas.

“We cannot help but commiserate with the anguish now being suffered by our fellow Filipinos there,” PamCham said in an advisory to members.

It called the disaster “another instance where Filipino unity and resiliency are most essential.”

PamCham’s contact numbers are (045) 4554223, (045) 4360448, (045) 4360557, 0928-5018676, 0926-6794820, 0929-6605124 and 0923-4541659. Cash and checks are also accepted through East West Bank Account No. 170-02-00071-7 (Balibago branch, Angeles City). Reports from Yolanda Sotelo, Gabriel Cardinoza and Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon