BBN-SARA UNITEAM links arms with Gov. Bag-ao to give aid, hope for “Odette” victims
SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands – THE UniTeam Alliance led by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday partnered with the camp of Gov. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao on its Humanitarian and Relief Mission to deliver aid for Super Typhoon Odette’s victims in the province.
On behalf of Bag-ao, a Liberal Party (LP) leader and a former three-term Akbayan party-list congresswoman, Provincial Administrator Dr. Aimee A. Jimeno received P1 million in financial assistance and 1,000 sacks of rice from the UniTeam Alliance for the affected residents of Dinagat Islands at the provincial capitol here.
“As Bongbong Marcos and Inday Sara have been saying for a long time, our team is always for unity. No political color, especially in this very difficult time,” House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin G. Romualdez, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD)
President and a former colleague of Bag-ao in the House of Representatives said.
Before the sending of aid to Bag-ao, Marcos and Duterte personally downloaded P1 million in financial help, 1,500 sacks of rice, an estimated 800 pairs of slippers, 10 units of bucket water filter system and other items to Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan 1 B. Ecleo, a member of Lakas-CMD whose family is a political rival of Bag-Ao, at the Cuarenta Elementary School here.
“We draw and provide strength that the people badly needed in this time of calamity from cooperation and unity,” Romualdez added.
Marcos and Duterte also visited Palawan at 12 p.m. Thursday to send P2 million in financial aid and 2,000 sacks of rice to Gov. Pepito Alvarez at the Puerto Princesa City Airport.
They also turned over P700,000 to seven Palawan mayors or P100,000 each and P200,000 to Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron for typhoon victims.
The UniTeam also donated 500 sacks of rice to Bayron and another 500 sacks of rice to the association of barangay captains in Palawan.
Although they are not politically aligned, Alvarez and Bayron joined Marcos and Duterte during the turnover ceremony.
On Wednesday, political rivals Surigao del Norte Reps. Robert Ace Barbers (2nd District) and Francisco Jose II “Bingo” F. Matugas (1st District) set aside party lines to welcome Marcos and Duterte who delivered P1.5 million in financial aid and 3,000 sacks of rice for the province.
Barbers initiated a fist bump with Matugas who gamely responded.
Former Surigao del Norte Gov. Lyndon Barbers, brother of Cong. Ace Barbers, is running for governor against the father of Bingo Matugas, incumbent Gov. Francisco Matugas.
At 10:30 a.m last Wednesday in Siargao Airport, Duterte turned over P1 million in financial aid and 1,000 sacks of rice to Barbers for the victims of Super Typhoon Odette.
In the same event, Marcos handed over to Gen. Luna, Siargao Mayor Cecilia L. Rusillon P500,000 in financial assistance and 2,000 sacks of rice for the typhoon victims.
The UniTeam also donated one portable solar panel system and one bucket water filter system for the local leaders of Surigao del Norte.
It was the second tranche of assistance delivered by UniTeam to Surigao del Norte.
Last December 20, the UniTeam turned over to Gov. Francisco Matugas and Rep. Bingo Matugas P2 million in financial assistance and 2,000 food packs worth P1 million, 3,000 bags of rice to be distributed in Surigao del Norte (2,000 bags) and Siargao Island (1,000 bags) at Dapa, Siargao Island.
Marcos and Duterte also visited Negros Oriental 1 p.m. Wednesday to send P2 million in financial help and 2,000 sacks of rice to reelectionist Gov. Roel Degamo at the provincial capitol in Dumaguete City.
At the same time, the camp of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves through Bayawan City Mayor Henry Pryde Teves, who is running for governor, received P1 million in financial assistance and 1,000 sacks of rice from UniTeam at the Bacong gym in Bacong, Negros Oriental.
The BBM-Sara UniTeam on Wednesday assured that its Humanitarian and Relief Mission will deliver aid to local leaders regardless of their political affiliations with the hope of uniting them in the rehabilitation of areas badly hit by Super Typhoon Odette.
Romualdez said the UniTeam has been exerting all efforts to raise hope in communities ravaged by the typhoon.(END)
