by Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, December 28 (PIA) – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) on Wednesday afternoon turned over cash donations and relief goods to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) in Iligan City.
Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Jose Bayani Gucela personally turned over the cash donation amounting to P110,000 and bundles of relief goods to CDMRRC command staff Josefina Cabusas at the city hall.
Gucela said the amount was generated from the voluntary donation of policemen from their Christmas bonus. “They also donated used clothings,” Gucela added.
“The relief goods we have collected did not only come from the police officers but also from our force multipliers and friends who deeply sympathized with the unfortunate events experienced by the flood victims,” Gucela reported.
The donations collected were part of the “Oplan Tabang Sendong”, a relief operations campaign launched by the provincial command following the tropical storm “Sendong” which brought great flooding, increased number of deaths, countless misplaced families and homes in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan to ameliorate the condition of the victims.
Meanwhile, the organized radio assistance communication and information services (ORACIS) Pagadian City chapter president Michael Ganta said they actively took part with the disaster campaign of the PNP saying that the agency’s campaign is worthy to be supported by various civic organizations. “As PNP’s partner, it is incumbent upon us to take part in this noble endeavor,” Ganta said.
“We have donated relief goods, canned foods and noodles. We also volunteered in helping the PNP to unload the relief goods at the CDRRMC center,” Ganta added.
Motorized Tricycle Franchising and Regulatory Board (MTFRB) committee chairman Hon. Arnold Gavenia of the Sangguniang Panlungsod said the donations that the MTFRB and the Federation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association (FETDOPAC) have collected resulted from the meeting that he called on December 21 with the board of directors appealing to them to help the flood victims.
Gavenia said the relief operations campaign that they’ve launched is their own little way of sharing help to the victims. “ Gustong ipakita ng transport sector na makapagbibigay sila sa mga biktima ng baha at para makita silang nakangiti kahit papano sa panahon ng Pasko. (The transport sector would like to show that they can share something to the flood victims and to see them even with a little smile this Christmas season),” Gavenia added.
He said cash and non-cash donations like bottled water, canned goods, noodles from FETDOPAC members and from other individuals were received by the association.
FETDOPAC president Jesuseller Duterte said they have collected more than P4,000 from its members but they used it to buy canned goods and noodles saying that these are some of the urgent needs of the survivors.
“Nalipay kaayo mi sa gipakita nga suporta sa mga driver sa tricycle bisan ug lisod ang ilang kahimtang pero wala sila nagmakuli paghatag ug sinsilyo para sa mga biktima sa baha.” ( I was very happy for the show of support of the tricycle drivers that despite their difficult situation, they did not hesitate to give their coins for the flood victims), Duterte said.
The donations were received by Josefina Cabusas, CDRRMC command center staff.
