City to put up trust account for relief donations
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is set to authorize Mayor Jerry Treñas and City Treasurer's Office to open a trust account to accommodate all donations particularly from foreign entities and private sectors for the typhoon victims in the city. Two foreign embassies have pledged to help.
Inquiries on monetary donations from several foreign embassies based in Metro Manila were recently received by the city mayor’s office, including those from international organizations that wanted to help the flood victims and the city government here.
Among the foreign embassies that pledged support are the Spanish and Japanese embassies. The USAID, Filipinos in Illinois, Germany and Toronto likewise wants to help. The single bank trust account for all donations will hasten the help from the donors to the recipients who suffered much destruction.
The bank account number will be posted at the city government website for all possible donors to see and inquire as soon as the legislative body approves the plan.
The League of Cities in the Philippines and JICA also wants to extend assistance to the city government.
Yesterday, Aurelio Servando, a businessman from Bacolod and his group was in the city for a feeding of 1,500 families in affected barangays in Jaro. Several other business associations wants to do the feeding activities for the typhoon victims. In Jaro alone, the affected barangays reached to 41.
Meanwhile, Treñasassigned key city officials as point persons to coordinate on issues regarding the relief operations aside from their usual tasks. Engr. Noel Hechanova of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office will head the special center on water supply; City Administrator Melchor Tan to head the center for infrastructures such as roads, bridges, markets and schools; City Executive Assistant Francis Cruz to coordinate with donation, relief and health issues; and City Health Officer Dr. Urminico Baronda to coordinate the sanitation at the evacuation centers.