CEBU CITY — The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) is extending financial assistance to the surviving families of journalists killed in the brutal massacre in Maguindanao early this week.

NAITAS, founder of the 777 News Forum in Manila and the popular 888 News Forum in Cebu, will be giving out P30,000 financial aid to the families of the slain journalists, counting to 34 as of press time, to help in their daily needs.

“It’s just a small amount but we hope that, in one way or another, we can help the families of the slain journalists as we condemn such act of barbarism that also resulted in the death of civilians,” said NAITAS Chairman Emeritus Robert Lim Joseph. NAITAS, he said, feels for the journalists considering that the travel group has long been supporting the work of the media in promoting tourism and development news around the country.

Joseph said the group is planning to organize 999 News Forum in Davao by next year.

Aside from the P30,000 cash assistance, Joseph, who is the honorary consul general of the Republic of Latvia, has also donated P100,000 cash from his personal coffers for the families of the journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre.

Earlier, Malacañang disclosed that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will give P100,000 to each massacre victim.

The P100,000 to be given to each victim will be sourced from the President’s Social Fund, said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

“I am very happy to announce that President Arroyo is giving at least P100,000 to each of the victims of the (Maguindanao massacre) from her social fund,” Remonde said. According to Remonde, the Chief Executive has tasked Presidential Assistant on Mindanao Jesus Dureza to submit the names of the victims for the disbursement of the financial assistance.

Remonde said Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor was tasked to prioritize the journalists who were killed in the Maguindanao massacre, including giving assistance to their families.