Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Tuesday said that the Department’s fund raising campaign for the victims of Typhoon Sendong, particularly in Mindanao, has already reached around P4-million.
“This is just an initial figure. We are expecting more pledges and contribution from the regional offices and local governments,” said Robredo.
The DILG Secretary said the funds came from the voluntary contribution of officials and employees of the DILG central office and regional offices, as well as from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) and Local Government Academy (LGA), all attached agencies of the DILG.
He also received pledges from the National Police Commission (Napolcom), and PNP Chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome of around P1.5 million.
Likewise, the Police Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Inc, (PNOA), headed by SPO4 Antonio Dawagan, also gave assurance to Sec. Robredo of financial assistance to the victims as the organization will collect P100 pesos from each of their 123,000-strong members nationwide.
Specifically, the DILG Secretary thanked Dawagan for his effort in encouraging the non-commissioned officers of the PNP to extend their voluntary assistance to the typhoon victims.
Robredo is optimistic that financial assistance and support from other sectors especially from local government units will pour in for the Sendong victims in the next few days.
He said he has received a text message from the Surigao del Norte provincial government that the LGU will give P100,000 each to Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City as emergency assistance to the flood victims.
On the other hand, Zamboanga City passed a resolution to provide P1M each to the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.
Other pledges received by the DILG Secretary are from Sta. Rosa City, Butuan City and Naga City.
Earlier, Robredo called on all chiefs of bureaus and offices under the Department, as well as members of the Union of Local Authorities of eth Philippines (ULAP) to conduct voluntary fund-raising campaign from their personnel and members to provide relief and support funds to Typhoon Sendong-ravaged areas in Mindanao.
As of today, reports from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that about 957 persons were confirmed killed, while 1,582 were injured and 49 others are still missing after Sendong battered Mindanao provinces with heavy rains and flash floods. The affected population reached 63,079 families or 338,415 persons in 13 provinces, mostly in Mindanao. ###