BACOLOD City – Senator Grace Poe sent over the weekend food assistance to thousands of families in Negros Occidental affected by the recent series of flash floods.
Poe distributed the assistance through a relief operation conducted by the Panday Bayanihan in the cities of Victorias and Silay where thousands of families affected by the floods received food packs containing kilos of rice, packs of noodles, cans of corned beef and beef loaf, and sachets of coffee drink.
“Alam po natin na hindi sapat ‘yan, pero kahit paano, mararamdaman nila na nandito ang inyong lingkod sa sitwasyon na kailangan nila ang tulong at kalinga,” Poe said in a statement.
The recipients of the assistance expressed gratitude to Poe and the Panday Bayanihan, saying that her benevolence has inspired them to start rebuilding their lives.
Panday Bayanihan is a nongovernment organization led by Poe’s son and chief of staff Brian Poe Llamanzares, that conducts relief operations to help families in need, especially those affected by natural and man-made calamities.
The cities of Victorias and Silay and other areas in the Third District of Negros Occidental were first flooded in the early hours of New Year’s Day because of a heavy downpour.
A week after, on the evening of January 8 until the early morning of the following day, a second wave of flash flood occurred, killing two persons, and rampaged through other areas located in northern parts of the province.
“Nakakalungkot talaga. Binaha sila not just once, but twice. Hindi pa nga nakakaahon sa unang baha, binaha pa uli wala pang sampung araw ang pagitan,” Poe said.
The lady senator expressed gratitude to the generous supporters of Panday Bayanihan, named after the iconic fictional local hero of the underdog masses portrayed and popularized by the senator’s late father, Fernando Poe Jr., in the “Ang Panday” movie series.
“Ang mga natural disaster tulad nitong flash floods na tumama sa ating mga kasimanwa sa Negros Occidental ay hindi mapipigil. Ang kahanga-hanga sa mga Pilipino ay ang kultura ng ‘bayanihan’ at spirit of volunteerism na agad tayong tumutulong sa sinuman na nangangailangan kahit hindi natin kilala,” Poe said.
Her mother, veteran actress Susan Roces, hails from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, called anew for the immediate approval and eventual enactment of Senate Bill No. 124, or the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System Act,” that she authored, which seeks to create a disaster risk reduction department and set aside at least three percent of all estimated regular government revenues for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund.
“We really cannot avoid flash floods, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters. But we can mitigate their impact through preventive measures, preparedness, and building communities resilient to calamities which can be effectively implemented once institutionalized through the passage of this measure,” Poe said.
