DONOR. The City of Bacolod is donating a total of PHP4.5 million in financial assistance to seven local government units devastated by earthquakes in Mindanao. The donation was unanimously approved by the City Council during its regular session on Wednesday afternoon. (PNA Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY -- The city government here is set to donate a total of PHP4.5 million in financial assistance to seven local government units (LGUs) devastated by earthquakes in Mindanao.
The donation was unanimously approved by the City Council during its regular session on Wednesday afternoon, based on the letter-request of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Aaron Bais endorsed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas, head of CDRRMO cluster, said the allocation will be sourced from the 30 percent Quick Response Fund of the city’s 2019 DRRM Fund.
“We will send the funds to these LGUs through bank transfer,” he added.
The beneficiaries include Kidapawan City, municipalities of Makilala, Tulunan and Magpet in Cotabato (North) Province as well as Digos City, towns of Magsaysay and Bansalan in Davao del Sur.
The two cities will each receive PHP1 million while the five towns, PHP500,000 each. All seven LGUs have been placed under a state of calamity.
On Oct. 29, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook North Cotabato. Two days later, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake also jolted parts of Mindanao.
On Wednesday, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, chair of the Regional Development Council-Western Visayas, appealed to other provinces in the region to extend assistance to earthquake victims in Mindanao.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government is also set to provide financial assistance to the earthquake-hit areas.
In August, Negros Occidental extended financial assistance worth PHP1 million to Batanes after the province’s town of Itbayat was struck by major earthquakes last July 27.
Meanwhile, Antique is donating PHP1 million while Iloilo Province is extending PHP3 million in financial aid to the earthquake-affected areas in Mindanao. (PNA)
