REVILLA AIDS NORTHERN MINDANAO FLOOD VICTIMS

In the wake of the severe flooding that wreaked havoc in Northern Mindanao , Senator Bong Revilla today launched a relief operation through rice distribution for the affected residents in the region.

From his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), Revilla gave one million pesos worth of rice in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental Province to alleviate the families displaced by the flashfloods and landslides. "In emergency situations like this, our distraught countrymen must be given direct attention so they will not feel neglected and hopeless. The aid that I am extending to them may be meager, but I hope this would help in a way," he said.

Revilla was supposed to visit the relocation sites in Barangay Macasandig and Barangay Iponan in Cagayan de Oro City and Balingasag Central School in Misamis Oriental today (January 16, Friday) personally distribute his rice donation to the families taking refuge there but bad weather forced him to cancel his trip from Manila .

The senator appealed to the displaced families to remain optimistic in spite of their present predicament, as he vowed to exert other efforts for the rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental.

"Calamities are not new to us. This is the reason why I am pushing for the decentralization of disaster management strategies down to the barangay level. It is only proper that the 41,882 barangays in the country directly be part of national government's effort on disasters and calamities, "Revilla stressed, referring to Senate Bill 2013 that he filed, which seeks to replace NDCC with the NDMC (National Disaster Management Council) and have its own annual fund under the General Appropriations Act.

He also called on all businessmen in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City not to abuse the situation by making unreasonable price increases in their products.

"I am urging the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor prices of basic goods and services here. We need a watchdog against unwarranted price increase," Revilla added.

Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula and Cagayan Vice Mayor Vicente Emano expressed appreciation on Revilla's relief effort in behalf of their distressed constituents.