Appeal for aid for Cotabato

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said many parts of Cotabato City remain flooded but are getting little help from the government.

"I think the (government) agencies have forgotten about Cotabato," Gordon said, adding that a number of families in the city choose to stay in their flooded homes instead of seeking refuge in evacuation centers.

"If you see the people there, they’re on rooftops. They are in a very difficult situation. Even the bridges are damaged," he said.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), also appealed for help for the city’s flood victims.

The 69-year-old prelate said some 2,800 of the affected families are staying in 25 evacuation centers, and 11,000 others in temporary shelters provided by the city government and the Catholic Church.

Gordon said the Cotabato City needs more food, medicine, rubber boats, ambulances and four-wheel drive vehicles so those in far-flung areas could be rescued.

He said there must also be massive effort to repair all the drainage systems destroyed by the floodwaters.

"It has been two weeks. The Muslim children cannot go to school because their schools are also submerged. I will ask the NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council) to provide additional assistance to Cotabato," he said.

Aside from giving donations in cash or kind, Quevedo said city folk unaffected by the flooding could render volunteer work.

"There are a hundred little things to be done. They could (remove) water lilies or provide food for the volunteers, list names, repack and distribute supplies, and visit the evacuees," he said.

"I thank everyone and every organization – government, non-government, civic organizations, religious groups, the military – helping take care of their needs," Quevedo said.

Assistance may be coursed through the Mindanao Cross, Notre Dame Avenue, Cotabato City; dxMS Cotabato City, dxND Kidapawan City and dxOM-FM Koronadal City.

Cash donations may be remitted to Notre Dame University, Metrobank Account No. 707-490-0107, or the Archdiocese of Cotabato, EastWest Bank Account No. 63-02-005212.

Gordon, bishop appeal for aid for Cotobato
Philippine Star
07/14/2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=125091