By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The Navotas City local government on Wednesday, Nov. 16, expressed gratitude to national government agencies and groups that helped victims of the fire that gutted homes at Cardoniga St., Barangay Bagumbayan North (BBN), and Monroy St., Brgy. Navotas West last Nov. 14.
The city government thanked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the 1,500 boxes of grocery items including rice, canned goods, coffee and chocolate drinks it sent to the victims.
"Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa PAGCOR, sa pangunguna ng kanilang Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Alejandro H. Tengco, sa pamamahagi nila ng 1,500 boxes of grocery items (We thank PAGCOR, led by their Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Alejandro H. Tengco, for distributing 1,500 boxes of grocery items)," said the city government.
The local government also acknowledged the visit of Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go to the evacuation center.
"Namahagi ang tanggapan ni Senator Go ng Jollibee meals, grocery packs, vitamin C, t-shirts, bikes, relo, sapatos, at bola ng basketball at volleyball (Senator Go distributed Jollibee meals, grocery packs, vitamin C, t-shirts, bikes, watches, shoes, and basketball and volleyball balls)," said the local government.
The city government said the senator condoled with the affected families who lost their loved ones in the fire incident.
Go also distributed wheelchairs, crutches, and canes to persons with disabilities (PWDs), and gifts to pregnant women.
Meanwhile, the city government was also grateful for the water bottles sent by Maynilad Water Services, Inc. to the fire victims.
"Nagpamahagi po sila ng 259 pieces ng 6-liter water bottles at 2,376 pieces ng 350-milliliter water bottles para sa mga nasalanta sa sunog sa Brgy. BBN at Navotas West (They distributed 259 pieces of 6-liter water bottle and 2,376 pieces of 350-milliliter water bottle for those affected by the fire in Brgy. BBN and Navotas West)," it said.
The Tingog Party List also delivered over 600 packs of hygiene kits and vitamin C boxes and 50 sacks of rice, led by Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez and Spokesperson Martin Romualdez.
Tingog Partylist Consultant for Social Services Karla Estrada and Congressman Toby Tiangco's wife Michelle Tiangco went to the evacuation center to distribute the goods on Wednesday.
Tingog Party-list or Tingog Sinirangan is a political organization with party-list representation in the House of Representatives that seeks to address concerns in healthcare and education.
The city also acknowledged the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) which donated 350 boxes of rice, canned goods, water, and vitamin C to the fire victims.
The San Miguel Foundation also provided 480 packs of relief goods and 42 boxes of coffee products to the victims.
Senator and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Erwin Tulfo personally distributed relief goods and sleeping kits such as pillows and blankets to evacuation centers.
The senator was accompanied by DWSD National Capital Region (NCR) Director Pinky Romualdez. They gave P5,000 cash in accordance with the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
AICS is part of the national government's strategy to provide immediate relief by distributing financial assistance to help cover basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing to families affected by calamities and crises.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Alumni Association also supplied 350 care packages containing tumblers, t-shirts, instant noodles, and slippers to the affected families.
The city government also expressed gratitude for the supplies received from Indian Community, Joint Task Force, National Capital Region (JTF NCR), Philippine National Police (PNP) Malabon, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCSF), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Makati Rotary Club, Philippine Red Cross, and others.
A total of 179 fire victims are currently in the community isolation facility (CIF-4) Navocen Annex at Navotas Centennial Park, Brgy. BBN, the local government said.
Read more: 516 families homeless due to Navotas fire that killed 5, hurt 2