PCOO, BG party list, Israeli Embassy send aid to Odette victims in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY -- More help is on the way for residents of Caraga Region who have been affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, which ravaged most parts of the region on December 16, 2021.
In addition to establishing a communication center in Siargao Island and facilitating the provision of augmentation and various types of assistance, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), in partnership with the neophite party list "Bisaya Gyud," has extended relief assistance to Siargaonons which arrived Friday, January 7.
Onboard a C130, boxes containing household items, appliances, and even back-up power sources were transported by the Philippine Air Force to Siargao Island, where thousands of families are still coping from the losses sustained from the recent disaster.
The said relief assistance is comprised of two sets of chainsaw with two 5-liter gasoline; one set of water pump; one unit of generator, baking tools and equipment such as 50 pieces of oven sheet trays; one set of Planetary dough mixer with a 15-liter bowl; one rolling pin, and other household items such as the two units of extension cord.
The Israeli Embassy has also chipped in 92 boxes of relief goods and 14 sacks of rice, ready to be repacked and distributed.
With approximately 288,000 families or more than 1.5 million individuals affected in the region, the PCOO vows to continue assisting and complementing the efforts of the national government to help affected residents.
"This is just several of the many assistance that our office will provide and facilitate help for our affected kababayans. We are doing our best to transport these relief assistance as fast and as consistently as we can because, really, our main goal here is not just to augment but help them recover sustainably," said PCOO chief Martin Andanar.
"In this scenario, following a whole-of-nation approach is crucial which is why we have international aid coming from the Israeli Embassy and local aid coming from the Bisaya Gyud party list," he added.
Bisaya Gyud president Victorino Garay also echoed the passion of the communications chief in helping distraught Bisaya kababayans which is why Garay and other members of the party list pooled in resources to contribute to the nationwide relief operations for Odette-hit areas.
"We are most concerned with the welfare of our Bisaya kababayans who are now experiencing a crisis. From where I live, we were lucky enough to be spared from the disaster so we cannot imagine just how difficult all of this is for them especially since they had to spend their holidays not enjoying but coping, trying to find ways to survive," said Garay.
"We have established our party list mainly because we want to be of service to our people and what better way can we help achieve that mission than by being there for the people of Caraga?" he added.
At the height of the crisis, Secretary Andanar has renewed his call for cooperation among all sectors in light of the disaster aftermath.
"This situation is bigger than any of us. Thousands of our kababayans are literally at the brink of their demise. We have to once again cultivate the spirit of bayanihan and extend help in any way that we can," said the secretary. ##
