The victims of Tropical Storm “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro City—and I suppose, those in Iligan City, as well—have been inundated with relief goods and medical attention they don’t need them anymore.
What they need is the second phase of rehabilitation: Housing.
I was in Cagayan de Oro for two days as a layman member of a medical mission sent by Sagipbayan Foundation, and I found that help from outside for the flood victims has been overwhelming.
Sagipbayan is composed of doctors and nurses of St. Luke’s Medical Center who undertake outreach programs in poverty and disaster-stricken areas.
It is headed by Dr. Sammy Tanzo, who also led the Cagayan de Oro mission.
Tanzo and I saw for ourselves that the victims had more than enough clothes and food when our mission visited them in several evacuation areas in the city.
There were more doctors and nurses attending to the flood victims than there were patients.
The Sagipbayan mission, which came to the city on the invitation of Bobby Cabrera and Bong Pelaez of the local Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), didn’t have many patients to treat as there were many other medical missions doing the same work.
The more doctors and nurses, the better for the flood victims and other city residents.
Widespread epidemic—as a result of congestion in evacuation centers and decomposing bodies—had been averted.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who invited us to dinner Thursday, said President Noy has set aside a big amount for housing for the flood victims, but more money is still needed.
The government will put up a house and lot for each family, which will pay for the property on a 20-year installment basis, according to Rodriguez.
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As I said earlier in this column, relief goods for the flood victims are more than enough.
We should stop sending them relief goods more than they can handle as they might become too dependent on the government and private charitable groups.
Let’s give the victims a chance to fend for themselves so they don’t become mendicants.
I noticed in one evacuation center that some of the victims were either playing cards or engaged in small talk when they could have used the time rebuilding their homes.
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I admire the people of Cagayan de Oro City for their resilience.
Despite the death and destruction caused by the flood, the Cagay-anons have moved on two weeks after the tragedy.
The Cagay-anons, as well as the Iliganons, typify the Filipino’s trait to rise up after a tragedy.
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If you want to have a very prosperous 2012, change your attitude towards life.
Focus on abundance even if at the moment you cannot pay the electric bill and put more food on the table.
The situation will change when you adopt a positive mental attitude.
More on that in the next column.