The House of Representatives adopted on late Monday afternoon, Nov. 7 two related resolutions that expressed the chamber's collective thoughts on the recent tragedy caused by severe tropical storm (STS) "Paeng".
Monday--the first session day since Sept. 30--saw the adoption of House Resolution (HR) Nos. 504 and 505.
“The House of Representatives stands in solidarity with the victims at this trying time and assures Filipinos that it is ready and willing to provide any assistance necessary to alleviate the suffering of those affected by severe tropical storm Paeng and aid them as they struggle to overcome this calamity,” read HR No.504, the first of the twin measures to be adopted.
It added that the House of "collectively and individually rose up to the challenges of relief and rehabilitation in the storm-affected areas, including individual pledges for the purpose of providing financial and all other kinds of assistance".
Meanwhile, HR No.505 indicates that the lower chamber "commiserates with and offers its collective effort and initiatives to comfort and help the bereaved families" of Paeng's victims "so they can move on with their lives and start anew".
“The numerous loss of lives, the extensive damage to government infrastructure and private properties, and the adverse impact caused by Paeng to the livelihood of the people who are still reeling from the vestiges of the Covid-19 pandemic, call for immediate assistance from the government and the private sector to support the recovery and rehabilitation of the affected areas and people,” noted the second resolution.
An estimated 2.4 million Filipinos were affected by the storm, which battered different parts of the country over a week ago. It killed over 150 people.
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The twin resolutions were introduced by House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez, Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe, House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos, and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
Earlier, Speaker Romualdez revealed that the relief drive he initiated managed to produce over P75 million worth of cash and "in-kind" donations to the storm victims.