MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao, the fighting congressman from Sarangani, is helping out in the relief efforts for the countless victims of tropical storm “Sendong” which ripped across Northern Mindanao over the weekend.
Pacquiao, who turned 33 last Saturday, the day the tragedy struck and left more than 700 dead and hundreds more missing, felt very sad watching the news about the destruction.
“I am expressing my deepest sympathy to the victims and their families. Let us pray for all their loved ones,” said Pacquiao yesterday afternoon from his home in General Santos City.
Pacquiao’s legal adviser, Atty. Franklin Gacal, said the reigning WBO welterweight champion has already heeded the call of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte for House members to help.
Pacquiao has agreed to dole out P1 million out of his own PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Funds) for all the victims of the tragic incident.
“He immediately complied to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s call for all congressmen to slash P1 million from their PDAF,” said Gacal.
The tragedy came eight days before Christmas, and among those who were killed by the flashfloods were women and children, mostly from Cagayan de Oro and nearby Iligan.
Homes were swept away, bridges collapsed, and vehicles trampled and strewn all over the place.
Aside from the P1 million donation, Pacquiao will dig deep from his own pocket to provide additional help to the victims.
The world’s most exciting boxer today will send relief goods to the most affected areas starting today, including crates of bottled mineral water, rice, canned goods and clothing.
Pacquiao, who came from a very poor family to become one of the richest athletes in the world today, is always there to help victims of natural calamities.
When Typhoon “Ondoy” wreaked havoc in the Philippines in 2009, Pacquiao left his training headquarters in Baguio City, and took a long, dangerous trip to Manila to be with the victims.
He brought with him a busload of relief goods and personally distributed them to the victims.
“The situation needs an immediate national response. We have decided to give our all-out efforts, not just as an institution but as individuals,” Belmonte said during a media briefing yesterday.
Belmonte authored House Resolution 2017 to provide financial assistance to the poor victims of the tropical storm.
“Come resumption of session in January, we will present this resolution in plenary and I am sure it will be unanimously endorsed by the entire membership. But we will now advance the amount to be given today or tomorrow,” Belmonte said. –
source The Philippine Star | With report from Abac Cordero
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