The provincial government of Pampanga extended assistance to the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra last July 27.

A 29-vehicle convoy that included dump trucks, a wing van, a water tanker, and mobile kitchen left the city on Wednesday to bring aid to the affected residents.

Personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and Provincial General Services Office led the first batch of the team that will bring some 20,000 food packs, water and rice donated by Kapampangans.

Governor Dennis Pineda said this is an opportunity for the province to return the help and support given to them when Pampanga was devastated by disasters, particularly the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.

“Tayong pong mga Kapampangan ay tumutulong sa mga biktima ng kalamidad dahil nakabangon tayo sa grabeng pinsala ng Mt. Pinatubo 1991 eruptions at lahar sa tulong ng kapwa natin (We Kapampangans are helping the calamity victims because we were able to recover from the worst damage of the Mt. Pinatubo 1991 eruption and lahar through the help of our fellowmen),” Pineda said in a video message posted on his social media page.

The governor recalled that when Pampanga was severely affected by the eruption, the province also received donations and financial aid from various local government units, non-governmental and international organizations, and the national government.

Pineda, together with Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco, PDRRMO chief Angelina Blanco, other social workers, and volunteers of PDY Ventures Inc., is also set to go to Abra to bring other relief assistance to the earthquake victims. (PNA)