Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources turned over recently 104 boxes of relief goods to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council operations center at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex, Capitol Area, Dumaguete City.

Eduardo Inting of the provincial DENR office accompanied by Community and Environment Management Officer II Mario Aragon, delivered the relief goods for the victims of last week’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Negros Oriental.

The 104 boxes of relief goods include bottled water, canned goods sardines, corned beef, meatloaf and instant noodles with the total cost amounting to P100,000.

Inting said that Paje conveyed his sympathy to families who lost their loved ones during the quake. He also extended his prayer that the province can recover from the devastation.

Inting said he hopes that even with their little donations, they can help alleviate the pain and suffering of the victims.

Earlier, Gov. Roel Degamo thanked all donors and concerned individuals who extended their help to the victims, especially in Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan.

Degamo added that all relief goods are delivered via helicopter, sea vessel through the help of the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Navy.

He is also thankful to the untiring effort of the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Airforce who were instrumental in delivering the relief goods to the inaccessible areas in the Guihulngan and La Libertad.

Capitol sources said over P5 million worth of relief goods were received by the province through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

At present the relief goods still keep on coming in from various generous individuals, businessmen, the private sector from different parts of the country and even overseas.

All donated relief goods are properly documented and divided to all earthquake-affected areas in the first congressional district of the province, the source added.*MA