Aid pours in typhoon-stricken province of Catanduanes through Bayanihan spirit

As the provincial government of Catanduanes plea for help after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name Man-Yi), aid is pouring from the international organizations, national government and from the people from all walks of life including civic organizations to assist the Catandunganons back on their own feet again through the “bayanihan” spirit.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., set foot in the “Land of the Howling Winds” on Tuesday to inspect personally the extent of devastation left by Super Typhoon Pepito that barrelled through the island province Catanduanes on November 16 until the early hours of Sunday, November 17, 2024.

The President conducted an aerial inspection along with Catanduanes Governor Joseph “Boboy” Cua, where the Presidential choppers hover in the hardest municipalities of Gigmoto, Panganiban, Pandan, Bagamanoc, Viga Caramoran.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) in Catanduanes reported at least 7,869 houses flattened to the ground by Pepito. The provincial government attained the zero-casualty goal of the government despite the powerful typhoon that pummeled in the land of the howling winds.

The President handed over to Cua the P50 million aid for the rehabilitation and relief efforts in typhoon-stricken province of Catanduanes and provided food packs to 1,500 residents of Virac thus providing P5,000 each financial assistance to 500 households whose houses were damaged.

Gov. Joseph “Boboy” Cua said that the President assured him to send needed equipment, building materials, food packs and other needed assistance to rebuild the hospital and other government infrastructures of the provincial government.

Cua expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for visiting and delivering aid in Catanduanes as it will help them in the recovery. “In order for us to see the extent of damages caused by Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ in the province especially in the north, we conducted an aerial inspection in the towns of Panganiban, Bagamanoc, Gigmoto, Viga, Pandan and Caramoran with President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. After the inspection, PBBM assured that their office will provide materials for the renovation of the house and government buildings,” he said.

The Bicol governors were also the first to respond to the call of governor Cua. The provincial government of Albay led by acting governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao allocated P1 million financial aid and will send a humanitarian team composed of engineers, medics, watsan, and psychologists for psycho-social care and provide clean water.

Sorsogon governor Edwin “Boboy” Hamor also provided relief goods, construction materials, and heavy equipment to help the province in the clearing operations.

The universities and colleges in Bicol, specifically the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, Divine Word College, Bicol University of Legazpi including the civic organizations like the Legazpi City Host Lions Club send off food, water and hygiene supplies for the people of Catanduanes.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council reported that there are 481,980 families or 1,848,519 persons affected where 68,295 families or 245,760 persons are currently housed in 1,224 temporary shelters.

Out of these numbers, 47,765 families or 172,059 persons living inside the evacuation centers and 20,530 families or 73,701 persons living outside the temporary shelters.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Bicol Region said that the Super Typhoon has affected 468,772 families, totaling 1,799,899 individuals across six provinces in the region.

Of these, 51,277 families or 227,940 individuals are currently seeking temporary shelter in 1,117 open evacuation centers. While 16,241 families or 58,902 individuals are staying outside evacuation centers, seeking refuge in private homes.

The Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) of the DSWD in Bicol along with the Regional Quick Response Teams and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team leaders are continuously coordination efforts are being carried out with affected Local Government Units (LGUs) to safeguard the welfare of internally displaced families residing in evacuation centers across the region.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, accompanied by Disaster Response Management Group Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio, conducted a site visit and situational briefing with the Provincial Government of Catanduanes and members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol.

Their joint effort aimed to ensure the prompt and effective provision of essential relief supplies to communities in need in the province.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) and DSWD Bicol in collaboration with the United Nations-World Food Program (UN-WFP), conducted a strategic site visit to assess the viability of establishing a DSWD resource center in the Bicol Region.

This effort was supported by the DSWD Bicol’s Disaster Response Management Division-Regional Resource Operations Section to check and determine the accessibility and logistical considerations for large-scale humanitarian operations.

The group inspected the key infrastructure such as regional warehouses, airports, and ports. – BY RHAYDZ BARCIA