Jennylyn P. delos Santos
Arayat – Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda gave her early Christmas gifts for the 64 families who were last year’s landslide victims during typhoon Ondoy in Barangay San Juan Bano, Arayat as she led the turnover of the bunkhouses on December 15, 2010.
The construction of the bunkhouses was made possible through the joint efforts of all the officials in the province. Pineda said that the construction of the bunkhouses was funded by the provincial government while Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. purchased the lot for the victims.
Congressman Dong Gonzales wasn’t able to grace the event because of his prior commitments but he sent his Chief of Staff to relay his message to the people, assuring the victims of his continuing support until they fully recover from the tragedy.
“Balu ku king e biru ing delanan yung kasakitan, manibat pa anyang mesira la king landslide ding kekayung dating pibale-bale inyang Setyembre 26, 2009. Pibata yu ing manuknangan kareng tents at sirang building kilub ning Arayat National Park. Kaya sinikap ku kambe da ring saup da ring opisyales ning Pampanga para apagawa ku la ding bunkhouses para kekayu, manibat ngeni pwede yu na lang tuknangan,” Pineda said.
“Ding kekatamung pibale-bale ilang pekaligtas tamung santungan. Panabilin ku kekayu ing sana ingatan yu la reting kekayung bayung tuknangan, manuknangan kayu king mipnung lugud at pamisanmetung. Makanyan mu rin, mananaman kayung gule at miyayaliwang tanaman para makasaup king proteksiyon at pamaglingap king kekatamung kapaligiran keti Arayat,” she added.
On the other hand, it can be recalled that the governor led the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the bunkhouses last September 26, and after more than two months of construction they are now ready for occupancy.
More than Php5.7 million of provincial government funds were used in building the said bunkhouses while the office of Gonzales spent Php1.5 million for the lot.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members Ricardo Yabut, Monina Laus, Trina Dizon, Raul Macalino, Tarz Halili and Provincial Administrator Atty. Andres Pangilinan and other departments heads of the provincial government were also present at the turnover ceremony.
Arayat Mayor Luis “Chito” Espino, Vice Mayor Hilario Trinidad, members of the Sangguniang Bayan and San Juan Bano Barangay Captain Luisito Portacio also graced the said event and expressed their gratitude to Pineda, Gonzales and other officials, in behalf of the recipients.
The families who now have safe and secure houses of their own were very emotional saying that “Masaya ya ing Pasku mi uling atin na keng masalese karinan” and that they owe the governor, the congressman, and other officials a debt of gratitude.(Pampanga PIO)
