Relief goods from Negros Occidental for the earthquake victims of Negros Oriental will be delivered to those in affected areas least frequented by aid groups, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said yesterday.

Garcia said the provincial government has allocated P500,000 for the earthquake victims and is buying rice, sardines, pork and beans, milk, blankets and water jugs that will be packed at the Capitol in Bacolod for delivery next week.

The target is to deliver the aid directly to those listed as having lost their homes in the earthquake, she said.

Negros Oriental Department of Social Welfare and Development data show that 5,000 families in eight Negros Oriental local government units lost their homes in the earthquake, she said.

They are coordinating with the Negros Oriental DSWD in indentifying areas to deliver the assistance from Negros Occidental, Garcia added.

Garcia said they will also bring with them donations brought to the Capitol by private individuals and groups.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the city government was the first to send a batch of relief goods to Guihulngan City through Bacolod Fire Marshal Chief Insp. Pamela Rojane Candido last week.

He said Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes thanked the people of Bacolod who helped them.

Leonardia said he is expecting a resolution from the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council authorizing him to give financial assistance to the earthquake victims in Negros Oriental.

Bacolod Social Services and Development head Sally Abelarde gave an update on the donations received by the city government.

Leonardia asked Bacoleños to support the city’s “Bacolod Cares” program by sending their donations for the victims to the government center.

Meanwhile, a press release from the office of Rep. Anthony Golez (Bacolod) said he and Ang Batang Pinoy Movement headed by Jewel Mae Lobaton Pimentel donated 10,000 bottles of water to the children of the earthquake in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

The water was donated by the student-participants of the recent Jam Step activity in Bacolod City, the press release said.

May Altarejos Cueva of Project Cares, in another press release, said they have launched a fund drive to buy Aquatabs water purifiers that can be used to purify murky water taken from the river for people to drink in Guihulngan.

The program, dubbed “Clean Water for Guihulngan” fund drive was started by the mass goers of the Our Lady’s Chapel in Gonzaga Subdivision, Bacolod, and the members of the Sto. Niño- La Salle chapter, she said.*CPG/CGS

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