NOV.

20, 2013

NR # 3293B

Visayan Bloc spearheads Typhoon Yolanda Relief Operation

Lawmakers belonging to the Visayan Bloc initiated last Wednesday the repacking of relief goods in the House of Representatives Sports and Fitness enter for distribution to victims of !yphoon "olanda in the Visayas region# Rep# $lberto %$lbee& Benite' () rd *istrict+ ,egros -ccidental.+ one of the leaders of the Visayan bloc+ said he wanted to create little centers where everybody can help and this relief operation was /ust the initial move# House officials and employees united in voluntarily packing relief goods# $round )01 individuals took time out to help in the repacking during the first day of the operations while 211 volunteers participated during the second day# Benite' also said that he would start a move to generate more funds for the victims# %3 am giving my remaining salary for the year# We could even donate our 0)th month pay for the victims+& said Benite'# Benite' and Rep# 4erry !re5as (Lone *istrict+ 3loilo ity. went for an ocular inspection in some areas in the Visayas and saw for themselves the areas that need relief assistance# !he first four priority provinces that they have identified were -rmoc+ Leyte+ the district of ong# Lucy !orres67ome' (8th *istrict+ Leyte.9 :astern Samar+ the district of Rep# Ben :vardone9 the district of ong# Benhur Salimbangon (8th *istrict+ ebu. and Ro;as ity+ api'+ the district of Rep# $ntonio del Rosario (0st *istrict+ api'.# herry $nne <astor+ staff member of Benite'+ disclosed that around 811+111 canned goods and =+111 sacks of rice were ready for repacking# %We are targeting 21+111 packs of relief goods to be delivered in the identified areas# ong# $lbee Benite' wanted to make the move and this relief operation is /ust the initial step# 3f ever there will be additional donations+ this drive will continue+& said <astor# <astor said they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of additional donations from the -ffice of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte+ 4r# and from private individuals+ which were mostly in kind+ such as canned goods+ noodles+ clothes and mineral water# $side from Benite' and !re5as+ other members of the Visayan Bloc are Reps# $rthur *efensor+ 4r# ()rd *istrict+ 3loilo.+ :velio Leonardia (Lone *istrict+ Bacolod ity.+ 4oa>uin arlos Rahman ,ava (Lone *istrict+ 7uimaras.+ $ntonio *el Rosario (0 st *istrict+ api'.+ $le/andro ?irasol (2th *istrict+ ,egros -ccidental.+ Sharon 7arin (<arty6list+ $$?B3S6-W$.+ -scar 7arin+ 4r# (0st *istrict+ 3loilo.+ esar Sarmiento (Lone *istrict+ atanduanes.+ ?el Senen Sarmiento (0st *istrict+ Western Samar.+ 7eorge $rnai'+ (= nd *istrict+ ,egros -riental.+ <ryde Henry !eves ()rd *istrict+ ,egros -riental.+ Luigi @uisumbing (Ath *istrict+ ebu.+ Regina Reyes (Lone *istrict+ ?arindu>ue.+ $ce *urano (2th *istrict+ ebu. and :vardone# ()1. lvc