Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto announced on Wednesday, November 6, that the city government will donate a total of P13.5 million to various local government units (LGUs) placed under the state of calamity due to the adverse effects of Tropical Storms Kristine and Julian.
According to Sotto, Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski, and the city council, approved the city's Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council's (DRRMC) resolution on Monday, November 4.
The mayor said that the financial assistance worth P1 million each will be given to the provincial governments of Batanes, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Eastern Samar, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and the city government of Naga.
Meanwhile, P300,000 each will be distributed to the city government of Calbayog, as well as to the municipal governments of Magpet, Alfonso Lista, Bani, and Anda.
The mayor noted that the funds will come from the city's "Special Trust Fund" for DRRM, which means it is exclusively for DRRM-related activities and not allowed to be used for other purposes.
The local government also distributed relief goods to the affected families.
“Pero maswerte pa rin tayo dahil hindi tayo kasing ‘hard hit’, mabilis humupa ang mga baha, at nasa posisyon tayo ngayon para tumulong sa mga higit na nangangailangan (Pasig was also affected, though we were fortunate that we weren't as "hard hit," floodwaters quickly subsided, and we are now in a position to extend help to those in greater need),” Sotto said.
“Patuloy rin nating ipagdasal ang mga naapektuhan ng Bagyong Kristine (at Julian), at kung kaya nating tumulong kahit sa ating personal na kapasidad ay gawin natin ito (Let us continue praying for those affected by Typhoons Kristine (and Julian), and if we can assist even in our personal capacity, let us do so),” the mayor added.
President Marcos recently declared Monday, November 4, as a Day of National Mourning for the Victims of "Kristine" that ravaged several parts of the country from October 21 to 25 and affected a total of 1,788,630 families and 139 casualties nationwide.