Cebu gives assistance to typhoon hit provinces
The province of Cebu has donated P10 million in assistance to six provinces that were seriously affected by typhoon "Frank".
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday turned over P3 million to Iloilo, P2 million each to Antique and Aklan, and P1 million each to Leyte, Romblon and Biliran during a meeting with governors of the six provinces here.
The assistance was received by Governors Niel Tupas Sr. (Iloilo), Salvacion Zaldivar-Perez (Antique) Rogelio Espina (Biliran), Carlito Marquez (Aklan) and Natalio Beltran III (Romblon).
"It has been a policy of Cebu to help neighboring provinces," Garcia said in an interview at the sidelines of the of a meeting of the Visayas Regional Development Committee here.
She said they have given the assistance even as Cebu was also affected by the typhoon especially its northern areas including Bantayan Island. Around 400 dead and missing from the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars which sank off Romblon Island on June 21 were from Cebu.
The provinces were identified as recipients of the assistance based on the number of casualties and extent and degree of damage to crops and infrastructure.
The six provinces account for 153 fatalities, according to data of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
Around 430,245 families were affected and 61,698 houses destroyed in these areas. Damage to infrastructure reached P473,568,220 and agriculture to P28,301,600.
"We are very grateful. We did not ask for this help but it came," said Governor Perez.
Governor Marquez of Aklan, the hardest hit province said he felt "ecstatic" about the help.
"We welcome the help and thank the people of Cebu," said Marquez in a telephone interview.