Lawmakers’ fund drive raises P6.5M for Marawi City

Officers of the Congressional Spouses Foundation (CSFI) receives a check worth P6.575 million from lawmakers to help people in Marawi City. Photo by Pathricia Ann V. Roxas/INQUIRER.net

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo handed over P6.575-million to the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI) on Monday to be used in helping victims of the fierce urban fighting in the Islamic City of Marawi.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez, who chairs the House committee on accounts, accompanied Arroyo when CSFI President Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, CSFI Region VIII Rep. Martin Romualdez, and other CSFI officials received the “giant check” amounting to P6.075-million and P500,000 from the lawmakers’ fund drive.

Romualdez said the donations were sourced from the salaries of her colleagues and the average contribution of each lawmaker ranged from P5,000 to P20,000.

“The fund drive is a collective effort of all House members in the pursuit of helping distressed fellow Filipinos in Marawi City. This will also give message of hope, love and faith that the government is doing its best to assist them,” Romualdez said.

The fund drive 
started during the leadership of former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Vina Pastor, CSFI officer-in-charge, said Alvarez had already turned over an initial P4 million from the House fund drive.

She said the CSFI will coordinate with the Task Force Bangon Marawi for the utilization of the new  funds. /ee