MANILA, Philippines — The Bayanihan spirit is very much alive among members of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) who were dispatched to Cebu City to help in the clearing operations as well as provision of potable water to residents affected by Typhoon Odette.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno deployed 16 members of the MDRRMO who were willing to celebrate Christmas away from their families while serving the very basic need of Cebuanos which is clean water.
MDRRMO Director Arnel Angeles said the 16 members of the MDRRMO came in three batches arriving in Cebu City on December 22, 23, and 24, which is Christmas Eve. Most of the personnel came from different fire volunteer groups in Manila.
Of the 16 personnel, 12 members of the MDRRMO were assigned to the clearing operations of debris and fallen trees left by Typhoon Odette, while four were in charge of the water purification robots that were brought by the team.
“Tumutulong po kami sa pag clearing ng debris. Wala po kaming dalang relief goods pero may dala po kaming Water Filtration Machine po. Kasi po ang dala natin eh heavy equipment po at tsaka po mga tools. Land base saw, cutting machines, ‘yun po ang mga dala natin,” Angeles said.
Angeles said a water tanker was also mobilized to provide much-needed water to Cebu City residents whose water supply remained problematic more than a week after the super typhoon wreaked havoc in Central Visayas.
“Sa buong Cebu City po kami ngayon naka-concentrate itong linggo po na to. Iba-iba lang pong barangay pero Cebu City po lahat at ako ang tumatayong team leader,” Angeles said.
Angeles said aside from one firetruck, they also brought a rescue truck as part of Pilipinas Bilis Kilos “Operation Tabang” of Mayor Isko Moreno.
“Ang sasakyan pong dinala natin doon ay tatlong klase. Isa pong firetruck, water tanker po na 10,000 liters po ang capacity tapos po ‘yung rescue truck. Kumpleto po ang laman andun po ang mga chainsaw, mga electric po na hydro-electric tools po, mga combination tools na mga cutter, pambuka ng mga bakal, mga circular saw. Kumbaga ‘yung rescue truck po combination ang mga laman ng rescue truck. Tapos meron tayong dalawang generator set para po makapag-parecharge. Free charging naman po ang ginagawa po ng gen-set,” Angeles explained.
Angeles said their operations started on Dec. 22 and his personnel were able to finish clearing operations in three barangays along with the provision of purified water.
Angeles said a “Kaagapay Tanker Transporter 3,” which can be used as a storage for their diesel and gas, water, and generator sets was also brought to Cebu City.
“Ang Transporter 3 po logistics po ang laman nito. Andito po ‘yung diesel at gas, pati water po naming at generator sets. Dito din po nakakarga ang dalawang water purifier, mga mattress po na hihigaan ng mga tao at tsaka may dala din kaming partition tents na pwede ibigay sa mga nawalan ng bahay, mga 110 pieces po,” he said.
Angeles said it was the first time for them to spend Christmas away from their families. During Christmas Noche Buena, the 16-man MDRRMO team partook of crackers, hotdogs, longganisa, rice, and canned tuna.
With the water supply still not being restored, Angeles said some MDRRMO personnel will remain in Cebu City to aid those who are in need.
“Dere-deretso na po kami dito dahil sayang po ‘yung effort na magpadala tayo ng mga units. Hindi pa po nare-restore ‘yung water talaga ng Cebu. Wala pa rin po silang potable water. Sa ngayon po kung mano-notice ninyo pila pa rin sa mga refilling stations po at nasa P50 ang isang bote ng mineral na 350 grams,” Angeles said.
Angeles said since they started with their operations, they have provided assistance to more than 1,000 Cebuanos particularly those who are in need of water. He said residents particularly those coming from informal settler communities are very much happy with the assistance being provided to them by the MDRRMO.
“Yung water filtration po natin, ‘yun pong purified water na pinamimigay natin dahil pinu-purify naman natin ‘yung galing sa water tanker natin, tinesting naman po ng mga tao at tuwang-tuwa naman po sila. Hangga’t hindi po na stabilize ‘yung tubig po, ‘yung local water district po ng Cebu tutulungan po natin ‘yung mga tao,” Angeles said.
Angeles said half of the team may leave Cebu City for Lapu-Lapu City also in Cebu province to also provide clearing operations there.
“Baka po sa Dec. 27 mag Lapu-Lapu City na po ‘yung kalahati. Malaki po ang Cebu province kasi nanggaling po kami ng Carcar kaya may tubig pa po doon. Tapos ‘yung clearing naman, nakapag-clearing na rin po sa national highway kaya dito na po kami nag focus sa buong city ng Cebu dahil marami pa pong hindi madaanan na daan,” Angeles said.