Manila donates fireworks funds to ‘Sendong’ victims

Manila city Mayor Alfredo Lim proved this on Monday by diverting funds for this year’s city-sponsored New Year’s eve fireworks display and coursing it to donations for tropical storm “Sendong” victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

Manila has donated P1 million each to the two hardest-hit areas.

Lim said the city will be donating in cash instead of in kind, leaving it up to the local governments of Cagayan and Iligan to decide what urgent needs they can be spent on.

In a phone conversation, Lim apologized to the mayors of the two areas: “Hindi ko kayo mabati ng Merry  Christmas dahil alam kong nagdadalamhati kayo at ang inyong mga constituents, lalo na `yung mga nasalanta ng baha.” (“I’m sorry I can’t greet you a Merry Christmas because I know you and your constituents are mourning, especially those affected by the floods.”)

Lim also ordered the city hall’s department heads to organize their employees to see what donations they can come up with on their own.

The usual city-held fireworks display at Manila Bay will have to be foregone this year. Lim urged Manilans instead to enjoy similar displays to be held by the National Parks Development Committee at Rizal Park, and the Department of Health at Rajah Sulayman park in Malate.