Robredo’s volunteers continue relief ops for families affected by ‘Odette’

 Volunteer group “Dapat si Leni” mobilize relief efforts in Negros Oriental on Christmas Day.

MANILA, Philippines — Volunteers of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo continued to mobilize relief efforts for families displaced by typhoon “Odette” during the Christmas weekend.

In the municipality of Taft in Eastern Samar, volunteers held a “lugawone” activity in several barangays, including one held after the Simbang Gabi on December 24 at the St. James the Greater Parish Church.

Meanwhile, the group Dapat Si Leni – Guimaras, together with Hatagi.ph, brought Noche Buena packages for 150 families, toys for children, and provided solar lights, masks, hygiene kits, and first aid kits to Unisan Island in Guimaras.

A total of 300 relief packs were also shared by volunteers in an evacuation center in barangay Palaslan in Tayasan town and nearby coastal areas in Negros Oriental where most of the evacuees were staying in temporary shelters.

On Christmas Day, volunteers distributed relief packs in Manjuyod and Bindoy in Negros Oriental.

On December 26, Raffy Magno, officer-in-charge of Angat Buhay under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said that some 65 tons of relief goods were re-packed for distribution at the Relief Operations Center in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Then on Sunday night, 30 tons of drinking water were on their way to Cebu and Bohol for the families affected by the typhoon.

There were also 2,000 food packs, 2,000 sacks of rice, and 10 tons of drinking water loaded in a Philippine Navy ship in Sangley Point, which will bring relief assistance to Palawan.

Relief operations at the Oppra Elementary School Evacuation Center in Cebu were also conducted where 18 families are seeking temporary shelter.

“Sa masamang palad, lahat sila ay nawalan ng tahanan; layunin nating makatulong man lang na mabawasan ang kanilang mga isipin lalo na’t malapit na ring mag-bagong taon. Sa mga volunteers na bumisita sa kanila, maraming salamat po!” Robredo People’s Council said in a statement.

(Unfortunately, they all lost their homes; we aim to at least help reduce their burden especially as the new year approaches. To the volunteers who visited them, thank you very much.)

Apart from these efforts, volunteers during the Christmas weekend also conducted relief assistance and palugaw in Talisay City in Cebu and in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

Dapat si Leni volunteers also set up free charging stations in five different locations with the help of generator owners, while the Team Leni Robredo- Kabankalan Chapter and volunteers in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental distributed relief food packs and shared lugaw (porridge) with the affected families.

Robredo has also been visiting provinces battered by “Odette,” bringing relief packs and coordinating relief operations as well as meeting with local officials on how her office can assist in their rehabilitation effort.

As of Dec. 27, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)  said that the death toll due to Typhoon “Odette” has reached 389.

The typhoon has also caused more than P28 million worth of damages in 506,404 houses; more than P16 billion worth of damages to 276 infrastructures, and; P5 billion worth of damages to agriculture.

According to NDRRMC, a total of 334 cities and municipalities in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga had declared a state of calamity.

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