Capitol aid efforts still not reaching some barangays

DESPITE the rush of relief goods, the Cebu provincial government admitted that it still had to reach a number of areas in northern Cebu 11 days after these were devastated by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

“Sometimes I even receive text messages telling me that this particular barangay has not received relief goods. That is why we in the provincial government, are trying our best to reach out,” Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III told reporters.

Davide said the provincial government has been sending food packs right after supertyphoon Yolanda made landfall in northern Cebu last Friday.

But he said food packs were not enough for all the displaced residents.

“I assure you that the Cebu provincial government is doing everything it can, to do everything in its power to help all those in need,” he added.

As of Sunday, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) sent 172,760 food packs to storm-affected towns in the north.

The bulk of the goods went to Bantayan Island (Santa Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan) with more than 42,000 food packs.

“Our procedure is that we direct the relief goods to the town. The local government unit (LGU) then will be in charge of the distribution to their barangays,” he said.

San Remigio town received 21,500 food packs, Medellin town got 18,000 food packs and Daanbantayan town received 17,500 food packs.

Davide said the PSWDO ordered an additional 5,000 sacks of rice.

The Cebu provincial government spent P45 million from its calamity fund to buy relief goods and allocate money to help hard-hit towns, Davide said.

Russia donated 28 tons of sugar for residents in northern Cebu, Samar and Leyte.

Sugar is a good source of energy for affected residents, Russian Honorary Consul Armi Lopez-Garcia said.

She said 28 tons of relief goods also arrived in Cebu and will be distributed immediately. “Why sugar? Russians love to make tea with sugar that is why I encourage the residents to make local tea out of ginger,” Garcia said.