DavNor Capitol employees donate to ‘Pablo’ victims

Instead of prepping up for their annual Christmas party, Capitol employees gave their share and took turns in repacking relief goods intended for the victims of Typhoon Pablo.
The personnel eagerly repackaged the boxes of sardines and noddles, sacks of rice and bundles of clothing they have donated, without any sign of ill feelings even if the provincial leadership has called off the institutional fellowship they have been waiting for.
The provincial government scrapped this year’s Christmas party, supposedly to be held on December 14, 2012, as a gesture of empathy towards those greatly affected by the calamity in other provinces.
Provincial Administrator Norma Lumain issued Memorandum Circular No. 58, cancelling the festivity and urging employees of each department to share their donations, whether in cash or in kind.
The personnel responded wholeheartedly by pitching in so far P372,600 for the purchase of items for relief goods.
The amount is besides the sacks of used clothing and other dry goods that the employees have donated, together with the other sectors of society.
In lieu of their Christmas party, the Capitol officials and employees will bring the relief assistance on board the successful Davao del Norte Convergence for Peace and Development mission to Barangay Naboc, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province.
The barangay, some 20 kilometers away from the poblacion, was among the areas hardly hit by ‘Pablo’.
“Ok lang nga wala tay Christmas party karon. Ug angay lang nga manghatag kita  agi’g pasalamat nga wala kita nahiagum sa subo kaayo nga kahimtang sa mga biktima (It is just fine not to have our party. We ought to give to the victims as a way of giving thanks to the Lord for sparing us the terrible calamity),” said an employee, who asked to be on condition of anonymity, as he bundles up packs of relief items.
Although close to P2 billion–worth of crops and infrastructures were damaged in Davao del Norte, only one life was reportedly lost in the province, compared to over 700 that perished and another 800 missing in the neighboring provinces.
Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has encouraged the personnel to donate to the typhoon victims instead of wasting their resources to all-night binges and parties this Yuletide season.
“It is a more meaningful way of spending this year’s Christmas,” he said.
Part of the donations made by Capitol personnel were already distributed to the flashflood victims in Barangay Cabidianan, New Corella, Davao del Norte on December 12, 2012.
The provincial government has earlier brought its first convergence outreach in Compostela Valley Province, particularly in the town of Compostela on December 7, 2012.