The Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list lauded Filipino athletes who took the initiative of raising donations for those affected by the onslaught of typhoon Odette.
Nograles, in particular, commended Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and national beach volleyball team member Sisi Rondina for using their influence and reach on social media to call for donations and share information on various donation drives for typhoon-stricken areas.
Nograles also called on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to augment the ₱15,000 financial support it approved as typhoon aid for each of the 85 national athletes and 20 coaches from 24 sports who were affected by “Odette.”
The Davaoeña lawyer was also all praises for Cebuana Olympic marathoner Mary Joy Tabal, who gave out packed meals to people affected in her hometown.
“We thank Hidilyn, Sisi, and Mary Joy for their selflessness and compassion for our kababayans who are currently suffering because of the typhoon’s devastation,” PBA Party-list spokesperson Atty. Migs Nograles said.
“Once again, our athletes have shown that they are role models worth emulating, whether in or out of their sport. They truly are modern day heroes,” she added.
Meanwhile, Nograles also called on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to augment the ₱15,000 financial support it approved as typhoon aid for each of the 85 national athletes and 20 coaches from 24 sports who were affected by “Odette.”
“Of course, every peso helps, but we should pro-actively look into how we could increase the monetary assistance we are giving our athletes and coaches. Given the amount of damage Odette caused, mukhang hindi magiging sapat ang ₱15,000,” she said.
Odette pummeled the country with gale-force winds last week and left a massive trail of destruction in Visayas and Mindanao and some areas of Southern Luzon. The typhoon had initially packed winds of up to 260 kilometers per hour – equivalent to a Category 5 storm – with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph at its peak.
Several provinces remain without power and potable water. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 378, with 60 missing and 742 listed as injured. The typhoon also caused almost P16.7 billion in infrastructure damages, while agriculture losses amounted to P3.9 billion. Damaged houses reached an estimated cost of P29.2 million.
