House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday, October 31 announced that his office has gained nearly P50-million in terms of cash pledges as part of their continuing relief drive for the benefit of the families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
Romualdez made the announcement even as the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, home of the House of Representatives, was transformed into a bustling hub for sorting and repacking of relief goods since last weekend.
The running total for pledges in cash was a result of Romualdez's call for donations for victims of Paeng’s onslaught last Saturday, which affected various parts of the Philippines.
On top of the P49.2-million, Leyte's 1st District representative has also received pledges of assistance from the private sector, which committed to helping in the production of much-needed relief packs.
He said some of these items were already sent to typhoon victims in Cavite and Laguna.
The fund drive was led by Speaker Romualdez; his wife, House Committee on Accounts Chairperson and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez; and House Committee on Appropriations Chairman, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang relief drive at operations ng Kongreso para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Paeng sa tulong ng mga staff ng Office of the Speaker at sa mga Secretariat employees ng House of Representatives (The relief drive and operations of the Congress for those affected by typhoon Paeng are continuing with the help of the staff of the Office of the Speaker and the Secretariat employees of the House of Representatives),” Romualdez said on Monday.
“Asahan po ninyo na ginagawa natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang makapagpadala ng tulong sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo (Please expect that we are doing everything we can to send aid to those affected by the typhoon),” he said.
As of 1 p.m. Monday, Speaker Romualdez and Rep. Yedda Romualdez have responded to the requests for financial or food assistance to the following House members: Reps. Emmanuel Billones (Capiz, 1st District), Jane T. Castro (Capiz, 2nd District), Carlito S. Marquez (Aklan, 1st District), Teodorico “Ted” Haresco Jr. (Aklan, 2nd District), Ferjenel G. Biron (Iloilo, 4th District), Gerardo Valmayor Jr. (Negros Occidental, 1st District), Antonio Legarda Jr. (Antique, Lone District), Mohamad P. Paglas (Maguindanao, 2nd District), Bai Dimple I. Mastura (Maguindanao and Cotabato City, 1st District), David “Jay-jay” C. Suarez (Quezon, 2nd District), former Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque, Lone District), House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe (Zamboanga City, 2nd District), Mercedes K. Alvarez (Negros Occidental, 6th District), Maria Theresa V. Collantes (Batangas, 3rd District), Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, 2nd District), Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla (Cavite, 2nd District), Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III (Cavite, 1st District), and Marlyn "Len" B. Alonte (Biñan City, Lone District), Raul "Boboy" C. Tupas (Iloilo 5th District), Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag (Laguna, 1st District), Bryan Revilla (Agimat, Party-list), James "Jojo" Ang (USWAG ILONGGO, Party-list), Antonio A. Ferrer (Cavite, 6th District), Adrian Jay C. Advincula (Cavite, 3rd District), Roy Loyola (Cavite, 5th District), Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. (Cavite, 4th district), Aniela Bianca D. Tolentino (Cavite, 8th District), Joseph "Jojo" Lara (Cagayan, 3rd District), and Dan S. Fernandez (Santa Rosa City, Lone District).
The couple also heeded the calls for assistance from Governors Fredenil “Fred” H. Castro of Capiz and Florencio “Joeben” T. Miraflores of Aklan.
Romualdez also said the initial names of his colleagues who sought help from them will also receive aid, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.