A-PAD Bicol seeks help for quake victims

METRO Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) President Ferdinand Sia (right) spearheads the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management – Bicol wherein plans to support earthquake victims in Mindanao were discussed. Photo also shows MNCCI Vice President Eleanor Montemayor. JRM-PIA5/Camarines Sur

NAGA CITY --- Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Bicol thru its president, Ferdinand Sia, has appealed to the public to help raise fund for families and individuals severely affected by earthquakes that jolted most part of Central Mindanao in October, this year.

The series of the destructive tremors rendered many families homeless, wounded, hungry and lost and was left with no choice but leave their dwellings to ensure their safety against the recurring aftershocks which are equally fatal.

As one of the pioneering regional platforms for disaster management, A-PAD Bicol convened its members a few days back to raise its appeal to the public to help the Mindanao-quake affected residents, particularly those residing in North Cotabato and other badly-stricken municipalities like Bansalan and Magsaysay in Davao del Sur.

Sia, also the concurrent president of Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has called on the business sector, the non-government organizations, the local government of Naga and adjoining municipalities, and government agencies and private individual to join the campaign and send in their help at the MNCCI office located at the ground floor of JMR Coliseum, Cory and Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Triangulo, here.

Sia explained that they prefer cash donations to avoid the hassle of hauling the goods. However, he said that they still welcome other forms of donations that will be sent at the MNCCI office. The money will all be accounted for and will be turned over to A-PAD Socsargen or to the business chambers located in the affected areas.

“We want to knock on the hearts of our benevolent fellowmen to listen to the cries of our brothers and sisters affected by the recent disaster. They need our help now and the best way to help them is to extend a helping hand. Our office is open for your help,” Sia said.

In a press statement, Sia said: “A-PAD Bicol seeks the support of individuals, organizations, and institutions both public and private, all-over the Bicol region in coming together to gather much needed resources and logistics for the current needs in Mindanao such as emergency relief, and for long-term help such as rehabilitation of distraught communities and rebuilding livelihood.

We come together in A-PAD Bicol to show our solidarity to the people of Mindanao. We call on our fellow Bicolanos to shower this initiative with the much needed support so that we can help the people of Mindanao to cope up with their situation.

In a report relayed by the Citizens’ Disaster Response Network via Tarabang para sa Bicol, Inc., one of A-PAD Bicol’s partners, the earthquake in Mindanao has affected 148,500 people in 164 barangays, with 24 dead, 542 injured, and 27,510 displaced. LSMacatangay-PIAV/Camarines Sur