BAGUIO CITY — Officers of the Philippine Advertising Board (PAB) will turnover to local officials here at least P1.3 million in earnings during the recently concluded 21st Philippine Advertising Congress which was held in Subic Bay, Zambales as the group’s donation to the hundreds of victims on the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng.”

The biennial convention of advertising executives and businessmen was supposed to be held in this mountain resort city late last month had not for the adverse effects to the roads by typhoon “Pepeng” last October which prompted organizers to transfer the venue to Subic for safety reasons.

Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr. said the amount will be turned over to local officials by the Ad Congress officials anytime so that it could be utilized for the various recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the different parts of the city.

Out of the said amount, the city government will be sharing P500,000 to the Benguet provincial government since their vegetable and fruit industries were also heavily devastated during the typhoon’s wrath.

The decision of the Ad Congress organizers to transfer the venue of the premier activity to Subic received strong opposition from various sectors although the same simmered down after local tourism stakeholders claimed such decision is just part of the challenges that confront the city and more will still to come in the future.

According to the mayor, the city’s share will be used to fund projects which will partly address environmental concerns, including those involved in rescue and rehabilitation efforts during natural calamities like the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

At the same time, the city government also received a donated ambulance from former Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., who was at the limelight in the search, rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the different parts of the region, after the onslaught of “Pepeng.”

After the slump in the local tourism industry due to the effects of the closure of major roads leading to this city, the vibrance of the said industry is now back because tourism stakeholders have reported tremendous improvement in their occupancy rates as well as future reservations, thus, the effect of the typhoon was virtually erased from their memories.