The “Bacolod Cares” project has shipped a total of 734 packages and various goods to the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete for the victims of tropical storm Sendong as of Monday.

The report submitted by Jose Maria Vargas, acting Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head, said 152 units of various goods were shipped to Cagayan De Oro and 154 units to Iligan City on Dec. 26, 2011.

Another shipment was sent to Iligan City on January 9, 2012 composed of 295 packages of various goods through Negros Navigation, for free.

On January 5, 2012, 133 packages of various goods were transported by the Ceres Liner to Dumaguete, also for free.

The Bacolod Cares project had earlier raised a total of P116,710 in cash aside from the financial assistance from the Bacolod City government of P1.2 million that was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Out of the P1.2 million, P500,000 was given to Cagayan de Oro, P500,000 to Iligan, P200,000 to Negros Occidental and P50,000 for administrative cost.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday thanked all those who gave donations for the flood victims both from the government and private sectors, as well as the Negros Navigation and Ceres Liner, that transported the goods for free.

“We are proud that, at a time like this, our people have come up to our expectations. We were happy and surprised to a certain extent at the outpouring and the deluge of these donations from different groups, organizations and individuals,” he said.

Based on the assessment of Vargas, Iligan needed more assistance so they sent another shipment Monday with Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz as the consignee, Leonardia said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said George Zuniega, the former Barangay Captain of Brgy. 40 in Bacolod, has been appointed as the new head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs.

Zuniega, 77, said he was former Association of Barangay Captains head and secretary, and had served as barangay captain of Brgy. 40 for 10 years.*CGS

back to top