RESPONDING to the immediate needs of the victims of ‘Yolanda’, the provincial government of Tarlac[PGT] launched “TawidTulongVisayas”, a relief effort drive aimed at extending aid to the millions of victims of the super typhoon in the Visayas region.
Governor Victor Yap, who called on all Tarlaquenos to donate whatever they can as the survivors badly need aid as almost all of the people in the path of the super typhoon were left homeless and lacking food and water, said that we have to act as one and help our brothers and sisters who were unfortunate victims of “Yolanda.”
“This is the time for us to exercise the true meaning of Bayanihan. Everything that we can spare for our Visayan brothers and sisters should be donated to the PGT’s relief drive,” Yap said.
Donations of used canned goods, noodles, bottled water, candles, rice, biscuits, shoes, sleepers, bags, toys, matches, sterilized and powdered milk, bath and laundry soaps, diapers, coffee, toothpaste, blankets, used clothes, among others were immediately received by the PGT from Tarlaquenos in its first few days of accepting donations.
The historic MuseongProbinsiya was temporarily turned into a relief operations re-packaging station with hundreds of volunteers helping.
According to Yap, the influx donation is a healthy sign that Tarlaquenos love their fellow Filipinos.
“It is heart-warming to see the influx of donations and the volunteers rendering their services round-the-clock…Tarlaquenos are working to save lives,” Yap pointed-out.
The relief drive started accepting donations last November 11 and the first batch of relief goods were transported to the Visayas region last November 22.
“I thank all those who already donated and I urge our fellow Tarlaquenos to continue donating,” he said.
Aside from the “TawidTulongsaVisayas” drive, the PGT likewise cancelled its traditional Christmas party and will instead donate the budget for the annual yuletide festivity to the super typhoon victims.
“Yolanda” [international codename Haiyan] is recognized to be the strongest typhoon in recorded history ever to make landfall.
