The staff of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) went to Bohol on Thursday to deliver the packs of relief items purchased by the foundation and collected from its donation drive.
Ma. Theresa Catipay, RAFI Micro-finance executive director, said the damage left behind by last Tuesday’s killer quake was so severe that it would touch anyone’s heart.
She said the municipal halls and churches in places they visited were heavily damaged. “I was feeling helpless. But I have to be strong. I have a mission, which is to help ease the sufferings of the quake victims,” Catipay said.
She and other RAFI employees were able to distribute relief items in the towns of Clarin, Sagbayan and Catigbian last Friday and were scheduled to proceed to the other heavily-affected areas like Loon, Maribojoc and Antiquera.
Using its own funds and donations from concerned Cebuanos, RAFI prepared over 3,000 relief packs Thursday and sent it immediately to Bohol.
Catipay said the Boholanos are needing help badly. One of the RAFI teams sent to Bohol even saw a man displaying a placard begging for water.
She said if people in lowland towns are in need of food and water, how much more for those living in the upland barangays. “Food is really scarce. The devastation is so great,” she said, quoting reports from the staff of RFI Micro-finance Bohol branches.
The people, though, are not just waiting for help. They are picking themselves up to carry on with their lives.
“You might think they are just waiting for help. But no, they are determined to pick up the pieces and go back to normal life again. They are earning a living amid the devastation,” Catipay said, referring to the people she saw selling fish, puto and other items early in the morning.
“You can see the resilience of their spirit. They are coping. They are not helpless, but they need our help,” Catipay said.
Last Friday, RAFI purchased additional food and water worth P1.2 million for shipment to Bohol.