Financial Aids Flood for Typhoon Yolanda Victims

Financial aids are coming in for the victims of typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu municipalities while the number of typhoon-related deaths in the province already reached 49 as of Sunday afternoon based on the police records.

The Cebu City government has decided to help the typhoon victims in 10 northern towns of the province by giving them P5 million or at P500,000 each, while the city also deployed three of its dump trucks for the province’s use.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the City Council’s committee on social services, said the P5 million will be taken from the city’s calamity budgets.

During the special session today, some other city legislators are expected to suggest that the city will also give financial aid to the typhoon victims in Tacloban City.

The Cebu City officials admitted that the city also needs financial assistance, particularly for the construction of a new hospital building to replace the dilapidated and already feeble Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) building.

On the typhoon victims in Cebu, Minda Morante, the regional director of the Office of the Civil Defense in Central Visayas, said they were facing difficulties of collating data from the municipalities because the communication facilities had been interrupted also by the typhoon.

Morante said they are just relying on the statistics from the police, saying “Kung unsay available sa area mao lang ang amo nga nakuha kay even mayors ni-angkon nga nagli-bog sila kung pila gyud ang exact number sa mga casualties.”

The Capitol officials said damaged communication services have made it difficult for them to quickly coordinate with the municipalities, especially those in the northernmost tip of Cebu Island that are most badly hit.

The police record said nine people died in Bogo City, seven in Bantayan Islands, four in Medellin, three in Madridejos, two each in Sogod and San Remigio towns, and one each in Balamban town and Lapu-Lapu City.

Police said the fatalities in Sogod were identified as Jean Arnado, 34, and Nida Saltunes, 54, both residents of Barangay Pansoy, whose bodies were found under their houses’ debris.

The fatality in Balamban was identified as Mario Sorila, 40, of Barangay Ginatilan while those who died in Madridejos were Edgar Despi, 32, of Barangay Bunakan, Alberto Prietos, 46, and a one-year-old infant from Barangay Tarong.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said 95 to 98 percent of houses in Bantayan, Madridejos and Sta. Fe towns, all in Bantayan Islands, were destroyed by the typhoon and 12 reportedly died in Bantayan, three in Madridejos and four in Sta. Fe.

In Medellin and San Remegio towns, 90 to 95 percent of houses were reported damaged while several elementary schools were also severely damaged.

The Cebu City government deployed three Kaohsiung buses to provide free rides for those who want to go the northern towns to check on their loved ones or offer assistance to typhoon victims.