Charity office helps 'Frank' victims
ROXAS CITY – The government's charity office has aided more than P13 million assistance to victims of calamity in the country.
Dr. Larry Cedro, spokesperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) disclosed that a total of P13.25 million financial assistance were granted to victims of typhoon "Frank."
Cedro said that upon the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the PCSO has approved the release of said financial help to the different provinces that were devastated by said typhoon in June.
The financial assistance included P 3-million that was coursed through the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for its relief operation, particularly for the purchase of medicines and food, he said in the PCSO online news.
In addition, the PCSO Board of Directors had approved the grant of financial assistance for the repair of Lapaz Maternity Clinic in Iloilo City as well as purchase of medicines in the amount of P1 million.
Five district hospitals in Iloilo province were also granted P3 million assistance, he said, adding that P2 million was also aided to the provincial government of Aklan for the rehabilitation of its hospitals and equipments.
The provincial government of Capiz and Antique each was granted P500,000 for the repair of its health facilities as well as for the purchase of medicines, he said.
Cedro added that some P750,000 was also aided to the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council of Western Visayas for its relief operation.
On the other hand, the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and the provincial government of Eastern Samar was also granted financial help in the amount of P1 million and P1.5 million, respectively.
In addition, Cedro revealed that the PCSO had also released P150,000 for the purchase of bottled water for affected residents in Iloilo City in the absence of reported unavailability of supply of potable drinking water.
Typhoon Frank badly hit Western Visayas provinces in June 21 and claimed the lives and properties of more people here. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)