The Office of the Vice President (OVP) vowed on Wednesday to continue helping the landslide victims in the Bicol region rebuild their lives.
Vice President Leni Robredo visited Sagñay, Camarines Sur on the same day to check on the search and retrieval operations and hand over financial aid and relief goods to families struck by landslides in the said town.
Robredo, a former congresswoman of the province, said it is “heartbreaking to see the damage left by Usman and to hear the stories of those who lost their loved ones and their homes to the landslide.”
“Our office will continue to seek ways to help them rebuild their lives. We hope more of you will join us,” the Vice President said in a tweet.
In Sagñay, CamSur today. Heartbreaking to see the damage left by #UsmanPH, to hear the stories of those who lost their loved ones and their homes to the landslide. Our office will continue to seek ways to help them rebuild their lives. We hope more of you will join us. pic.twitter.com/DfUy925Vgp
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) January 2, 2019
Almost a week after the devastation brought about by Tropical Depression “Usman,” the death toll in the Bicol region has risen to 105, around 30 of which were from Sagñay. At least 20 people are still missing.
The provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay were already placed under state of calamity due to landslides and widespread flooding in the region.
Earlier, Robredo said stricter measures for warning people about landslide-prone areas should be enforced.
The Vice President added that prevention is the key to dealing with disasters. /ee
READ: Robredo calls for stricter measures against landslides