Belmonte urges lawmakers to help typhoon victims

Residents walk amongst their destroyed houses after Typhoon Pablo hit Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on December 4, 2012. AFP/KARLOS MANLUPIG

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Wednesday said he has filed a resolution urging fellow legislators to voluntarily extend assistance to victims of typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha).

This was following calls for members of the House of Representatives to set aside legislative work and help those who were devastated by the typhoon.

Former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier called on fellow lawmakers to prioritize sending help to the victims of typhoon Pablo.

Compostela Valley Representative Ma. Carmen Zamora, whose district was badly hit by the typhoon, said that she was on her way to see the damage wrought by the weather disturbance and appealed for help for typhoon victims.

First to confirm donations for residents of areas devastated by typhoon Pablo were allies of the former President, whom House minority leader Danilo Suarez said would donate a portion of their salary for typhoon victims.