Among the worst-hit areas due to ‘Odette’
LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte- The government will help for the fast recovery of the people of this historic town still reeling from the impacts of Typhoon ‘Odette’ that hit their island on December 16.
This assurance was made by the regional directors of different government line agencies who are part of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).
The officials, led by Office of Civil Defense Regional Director and RDMMC chairman Lord Byron Torrecarion, visited the island on Jan.7 and turned over assistance to the local government unit consisting of carpentry tools, fiberglass fishing boats, family food packs, hygiene kits, and temporary shelter assistance.
“Kami ay taus-pusong sumusuporta sa muling pagbangon at pagtayo ng ating mga pamahalaan, duon po simula sa barangay level. Kaya po sinusuportahan ko po ang ating mga punong barangay, mga municipal officials, ia-assisst po namin kayo na maitawid itong pagdurusa ng ating mga kababayan,” lawyer Arnaldo Escober, the regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
“Marami pong dalang serbisyo ang national government para ibigay sa mga barangay sa buong munisipyo ng Limasawa,” he added.
Grace Sugbong, the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), announced that the agency had already provided over P15 million food and non-food assistance to the island residents, and financial assistance under the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation.
“Ang ayudang ito ay hindi makaka-abot sa Limasawa kung wala ang effort at support ng mga government agencies,” she said.
“Hindi po tayo tumitigil, tinitingnan po natin kung ano ang pwedeng tulong pa or other response na pwedeng maibigay Dito po sa Limasawa,” Subong added.
She added that their office together with the livelihood and shelter cluster of the regional council, are also discussing now what other assistance they can provide to the residents
For her part, agriculture regional director Angel Enriquez said that whatever livelihood their office can offer will be provided to Limasawa.
“I will make a report to the secretary to prioritize in Southern Leyte this island and we wanted to build back agriculture kasi alam namin from the devastation marami ng tumutulong na agency. Whatever livelihood we can offer, you have my commitment,” she said.
Limasawa town Mayor Melchor Petracorta was thankful for the visit of the regional officials and was overwhelmed by the assurance of the agency officials.
“Marami salamat. Even sa mga padala, wala akong reklamo. Kaya nga… kasi sa akin…hindi ko sana gusto manghingi nang – magmaka-awa, pero naawa ako sa mga tao, pero ang gobyerno natin nandiyan para sa amin, maraming salamat” an emotional town mayor said.
A total of 1, 433 houses from the six villages of Limasawa were totally damaged by Odette while 169 were partially damaged.
Some of those who lost their houses are still staying in evacuation centers while others had constructed temporary shelters using tarpaulins and other materials available on the island.
Gerry Sinoc, who is the village chairman of Cabulihan also expressed his gratitude for the support extended to them by the government.
He declared that practically all the houses in their village were destroyed due to the ferocity of the typhoon.
Aside from housing materials, Sinoc, who is also the town president of the association of barangay chairmen, also appeals that they be given assistance for their livelihood.
“Sa amin talaga, madami ang duon lang sa dagat nabubuhay. Yung mga nabubuhay sa dagat wala na ngayong sasakyan na gagamitin pandagat. Meron dyan mga butas, giba, kaya ang tulong na ganyan pampaayus at saka gamit sa panghanap-buhay pangisda, napakalaking tulong kung mayroon kaming makukuha galing sa mga concern agencies natin,” he said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
