Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels delivered 15,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for typhoon victims in Catanduanes as the provincial government and non-government organizations began distributing temporary roofing and other construction materials.
Last Friday (Nov. 22, 2024), the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) anchored in Cabugao Bay in Virac, carrying 12,000 FFPs, while the BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406) docked at the port with 3,000 additional packs which were delivered to the DSWD warehouse that same day.
The following morning, personnel from Coast Guard Station Catanduanes, augmented by the Deployable Response Group (DRG) from Headquarters Coast Guard District Bicol and elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continued unloading operations.
Earlier, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party List Representative Elizaldy Co launched the STY “Pepito” Welfare Response in Virac in coordination with the provincial government, the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government of Virac.
Among the activities intended to provide support for the calamity response are a medical mission, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) payout, distribution of FFPs, tents and building materials for temporary housing.
Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) Undersecretary Randy Escolango spearheded the release of housing materials for an initial 950 beneficiaries through the municipal mayors of Bagamanoc, Caramoran, Panganiban, Pandan and Viga.
On the other hand, the Gawad Kalinga Foundation – Bicol through regional director Marc Sebastian told Governor Joseph Cua that they will send housing materials to affected families in response to the chief executive’s appeal.
The group has distributed to five Viga barangays goods including 60 boxes of 7-liter bottles of water, four boxes of soap, 25 boxes of shampoo, and 500 food packs containing two kilos of rice, noodles and canned goods.
Meanwhile, 60 volunteers from the Team Albay Youth Organization (TAYO) have arrived to conduct medical missions in the severely hit towns using mobile clinics.
The group informed the governor that it would allocate P2 million each for the Eastern Bicol Medical Center, Catanduanes Doctors Hospital Incorporated, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital, aside from the provision of psychological interventions and counselling therapy for affected families.
It is also distributing 1,200 7-liter bottles of water and deploying water filtration systems from the Waves for Water Philippines of San Miguel Corporation and mobile filtration units for Panay Island, Pandan, Caramoran, Panganiban at Gigmoto.
Also to be distributed are food and non-food packs including clothes and hygiene kits, 330 bags ng hybrid palay seeds, housing materials, and 1,000 jerrycans. Five Starlink satellite internet receivers with foyur months of data subscription were also sent to affected towns.
The Albay provincial government through Acting Gov. Glenda Ong Bongao also turned over a P1 million check to Gov. Cua last week as assistance for the recovery efforts.
Sorsogon Governor Joseph Edwin Hamor also sent medical teams, mobile clinics and housing materials for victims whose houses were damaged or destroyed.