The 294 members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. each donated P10,000 from their respective monthly salaries to raise some P3 million in aid for victims of supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international code name: Haiyan).

The lawmakers made the pledge under House Resolution 446,  which were authored by Belmonte and the six deputy speakers—Roberto Puno (NUP, first district, Antipolo), Henedina Abad (LP, Batanes), Giorgidi Aggabao (NPC, 4^th district, Isabela), Sergio Apostol (LP, 2^nd district, Leyte), Pangalian Balindong (LP, 2^nd district, Lanao del Sur) and Carlos Padilla (Nacionalista, Nueva Vizcaya).

Belmonte, who is also a former mayor of Quezon City, also reminded first-class local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila with massive resources to follow the lead of  the Makati City government,  which already donated P10 million for the victims of typhoon Yolanda.

“Aside from [the cities of] Manila, Pasay and Caloocan, all the other LGUs here in Metro Manila are in good financial condition. Considering that these LGUs are well funded, we should boost the engagement of such LGUs in addressing catastrophes,” Belmonte said.

Resolution 446 was also co-authored by House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales (2nd district, Mandaluyong, House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora  (San Juan), Representatives Mel Senen Sarmiento  (1^st district, Western Samar), Enrique Cojuangco  (1^st district, Tarlac), Mark Llandro Mendoza (4^th district, Batangas), Eleandro Jesus Madrona  (Romblon), Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. (Dasmariñas City), and  Rolando Andaya (1^st district, Camarines Norte), among others.

“Despite efforts of the local government units, rescue and relief operations have been unable to address the immediate needs of our affected countrymen given the magnitude of the situation. This is to recognize their need for aid and relief in this difficult time,” they stated in the resolution.

The lawmakers pointed out in the resolution  that “merciless winds and storm surges” caused by the typhoon that battered Visayas and Southern Luzon led to widespread damage to agriculture and infrastructure,  homes and buildings and rendered airports, roads and bridges useless.

Typhoon “Yolanda” ripped through the Visayas region last week, leaving over 3,500 confirmed dead so far, based on data gathered by the National Disaster Risk  and Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).  Some nine million persons in 9,303 barangays have been affected in the regions of Western, Eastern and Central Visayas; Northern Mindanao; Davao;  Caraga; and Calabarzon.