TACURONG CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) –In solidarity with the thousands of victims of typhoon “Yolanda”, the local government unit of Tacurong City decided to cancel some of the major activities of the Inugyunay festival this month, especially the colorful and expensive fireworks display.
Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla said the decision of the Inugyunay Festival Committee to cancel some of the big events in the Christmas festival was seen as a fitting way of commiserating with the families of typhoon victims who are still grieving the death of their loved ones and loss of their properties.
But Montilla added other events in the festival, including the nightly presentation, will push through as scheduled.
“Observing the annual Inugyunay Festival without the lavish celebration is one of our simple ways of sympathizing with our fellow Filipinos ravaged by the super typhoon in the Visayas,” she said.
With the decision to spend the funds for the relief operation, Tacurong City, led by Mayor Montilla and other local officials, went to Iloilo City to personally hand over to typhoon victims the cash assistance amounting to P800,000.
The Tacurong City relief team handed P100,000 each for Passi City in Iloilo Province and Roxas City in Capiz. Twelve towns of Iloilo also received P50,000 each.
The city officials also brought the P20,000 donated by the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
Mayor Montilla was joined by Vice Mayor Joseph Lechonsito, Councilor Psyche Sucaldito, Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon, Councilor Welson Ferrer and ABC President Silvestre Llanto.
Tacurong City Employees Association president Amelia Bochorno also joined the group in their travel to Iloilo to hand over the association’s assistance amounting to P160,000.
Relief packs such as food, clothing, hygiene kits and wireless cellphone chargers donated by employees and private individuals and organizations have also been delivered to affected areas through the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
As of November 30 report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC)indicated 5,650 individuals were confirmed dead and more than 1,500 remained missing. (PNA)