Mindanao evacuees hold somber Christmas celebration
LEGASPI CITY, Philippines—Despite the depressing state in evacuation centers, victims affected by flash floods in Mindanao still able to celebrate Christmas even in a simple way, Office of Civil Defense Director Undersecretary Benito Ramos said Sunday.
“Kagabi nairaos naman ang pag-celebrate ng Pasko,” Ramos told INQUIRER.net in a telephone interview.
Ramos said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed “noche packs” on Christmas Eve, consisting of ready to eat food.
Also, various socio-civic and religious groups, like the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and the group of Bishop Antonio Ledesma, also volunteered to assist in evacuation centers on Christmas Eve, Ramos said.
He said there was no formal program and no singing and dancing were done during the very somber celebrations inside evacuation centers.
“In deference to the dead victims, wala nang program. Walang nagkantahan,” Ramos said.
In its latest situation report issued at 6 a.m. Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that the latest death toll has reach 1,100 while 1,079 others remain missing.
A total of 108,798 families or 695,195 persons were affected by Sendong in 789 villages, 56 municipalities and eight cities in Regions 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, CARAGA region and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Of this number, 64,248 families or 327,826 individuals have been served in 46 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.
Damage infrastructure was initially estimated at P1.081 billion while destroyed crops have reached P1.936 million, the NDRRMC said.
Evacuees are expected to remain in temporary shelters well past the New Year since construction of their relocation area was set to start early 2012, Ramos said, adding that they expect that construction will last for six months.
But Ramos expressed confidence that they will not run out of supply for food and non-food items for the displaced villagers, citing the continuing arrival of aid both from the local and international communities. He added that the NDRRMC and its local counterparts are looking for warehouses to keep the donations that come in by the tonnes.
He added that the DSWD and its local counterparts are in charge of receiving and distributing these donations to the victims.
