Cebu Province, City Ready to Send Aid to Typhoon Nina Victims in Luzon

The Cebu Provincial Government and the Cebu City Government are ready to extend relief assistance to areas in Luzon ravaged by typhoon Nina, officials said Tuesday.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said they are ready to send help should the need arise.

Harold Alcontin, chief of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), said they are just waiting for the authorization of the Cebu City Council and an order from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena to dispatch relief goods to the affected individuals in the Bicol region.

The Office of Civil Defence (OCD) 7 has sent a team to Luzon to help in response efforts of the national government.

Tribunalo said his office will have to wait for a report on the rapid damage assessment of affected areas before making a move.

Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Christopher Baricuatro, chairman of the legislative committee on public health and social services, said the province has enough calamity funds to spare for typhoon victims in Luzon.

Tribunalo said the province still has some PHP10 million in its Quick Response Fund (QRF) while a resolution from the PDRRM Council allows the Capitol to draw resources from the disaster preparedness fund if the QRF runs short.

He said the province’s disaster preparedness fund is still between PHP30 million to PHP40 million. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS