CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Pampanga provincial government, led by Gov.
Dennis “Delta” Pineda, was quick to deliver thousands of relief goods to the
victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Abra province and other
parts of Luzon last July 27.
Pineda, who personally led the relief caravan, said the operations is a way of the
Kapampangans to express their gratitude for the assistance they received from
other provinces following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
“Nandito kami para maghatid ng kaunting tulong sa mga pamilyang lubhang
naapektuhan ng nakalipas na lindol. Ito ay aming paraan ng pagsukli sa tulong na
bumuhos sa amin noong pumutok ang Mt. Pinatubo noong 1991. Gusto po
naming iparamdam sa inyo na hindi kayo nag-iisa, kasama niyo kami sa pagsubok
na ‘to,” said the governor.
As of 5 p.m. of August 5, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded a total of 2,688 aftershocks
following the said earthquake with its epicenter located in Tayum, Abra.
“Talagang mahirap, hindi na nga kami halos makatulog hanggang ngayon. Sana
wala nang sumunod na lindol para makabalik na ‘yung mga tao sa kani-kanilang
mga bahay. Pati pamilya ko, apektado rin. Kaya sobra po kaming nagpapasalamat
kina Governor Delta sa tulong nila sa aming mga Abraeño,” said Abra Gov.
Dominic Valera.
The Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(PDRRMC) made a resolution, later adopted and approved by the sangguniang
panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, to fund the food, non-food,
and financial assistance given to the earthquake victims.
Gov. Pineda, together with Pampanga Mayor’s League president and Apalit Mayor
Oscar “Jun” Tetangaco, Jr. and Kapampangan volunteers, traveled more than 11
hours to bring 20,000 food packs containing 5 kilograms of rice, 5 cans of corned
beef, and 5 cans of sardines to thousands of families distressed by the tremor.
Aside from the food packs, 2,000 cavans of rice were also donated by the Pineda
family, and 20,000 5-gallon water containers by various Pampanga quarry
associations.
The governor also turned over a total of P2-million financial assistance to the
Provincial Government of Abra, P500,000 to the Municipality of Lapaz, and
another P500,000 to the Municipality of Lagangilang.
“Tulad po naming mga Kapampangan, makababangon ho ulit tayo mula sa
trahedyang ito, lalo na po kung may pagtutulungan at kooperasyon ang bawat
isa,” said Pineda.
The provincial government also brought water purifiers and tankers in response
to calls for clean drinking water.
The governor also acknowledged the efforts of the Pampanga offices, namely
provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, provincial social welfare
and development office, general services office, and provincial information office,
the Philippine National Police, Highway Patrol Group, and some volunteers from
the PDY Ventures, Inc. for taking part in the relief operations.
Helping other provinces in times of distress has been a hallmark of the Pineda
administration with its quick relief assistance to victims of calamities in Leyte,
Batangas, Cagayan, Bohol, and the Visayas. Jasmine Jaso/Pampanga PIO
