Food, water scarce in Itbayat

HELP BATANES Donations of food, water, construction materials and other items had been sent to Itbayat town in Batanes province immediately after the earthquakes struck on July 27 due to good weather. But rough seas and poor weather conditions in the past few days had delayed the delivery of assistance to earthquake survivors. —ARNEL COMAYA / CONTRIBUTOR

ITBAYAT, Batanes, Philippines — The delivery of aid to this earthquake-ravaged town has been delayed due to heavy rains and strong waves as 3,000 residents begin to worry about food and water shortage in the coming days.

Local officials said the rough seas had been preventing boat trips to this island-town for two weeks now, forcing aid workers to wait for improved weather before bringing relief goods to the quake survivors.

Roldan Esdicul, Batanes provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the provincial government had stocked up food and distilled water but the bad weather had been hampering their distribution to displaced families.

“We are hoping for good weather to allow the military plane to [land in Basco] and transport the goods [to Itbayat] by boat,” Esdicul told the Inquirer.

Maria Suzette Cultura, a teacher in Itbayat National Agricultural High School, said incessant rains in the past days had triggered landslides, causing boulders to block the access to the town’s main port area.

“A boat arrived in Itbayat on Monday but it couldn’t unload the relief goods since there were no vehicles to fetch these at the port,” Cultura said.

Drinking water

Agnes Salengua Nico, another teacher, said they accessed drinking water from a potable water machine set up by the Philippine Red Cross.

Mayor Raul de Sagon said there could be a shortage of food and water if no relief goods would reach them within a week.

He said fuel stock in the town was also running low, which could affect their supply of electricity. Villagers said electricity came only at 6 p.m. until midnight every day.

The July 27 tremors killed nine people, injured more than 60 others and damaged at least 260 houses in the town’s five villages, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

European Union aid

The European Union on Monday announced that it would donate P5.2 million in “humanitarian funding” to address the urgent needs of the quake survivors.

In a statement, the European Union said the money would be used for emergency relief items, such as mosquito nets and temporary latrines. “Moreover, cash grants will be distributed to enable displaced people to meet their immediate household and food needs,” the European Union said.

Earlier, the Davao City government allocated P1 million as aid to earthquake survivors in Batanes.

Alfredo Baloran, city disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the city council approved the release of the financial aid, noting the severe damage to infrastructure and property in Itbayat. The assistance, he said, would come from the city’s quick response fund for 2019 and would be turned over to the provincial government.

“[Mayor Sara Duterte] has instructed us to have the assistance delivered immediately,” Baloran said.—With reports from Villamor Visaya Jr. and Julianne Suarez

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The Philippine Daily Inquirer is helping extend relief to the families affected by the recent earthquakes in Batanes. Cash donations may be deposited to the Inquirer Foundation Corp.’s Banco De Oro (BDO) current account No. 007960018860.

Inquiries may be addressed and emailed to the Inquirer’s Corporate Affairs office through [email protected], or call 897-8808 local 238 or 352.