Volunteers shine in Nueva Ecija relief efforts

CABANATUAN CITY — At the onslaught of Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) authorities rushed to badly-hit areas where residents were trapped in their homes because of the nonstop rains then caused by the slow-moving typhoon.

The volunteers, too, were hurrying to get to the scene.

Lando caused massive flooding in parts of Luzon as it unleashed its heavy rains and ferocious winds at its peak.

Manila-based Raha Pureforce was one of the private volunteer groups that trooped to Nueva Ecija to give rescue and relief efforts. Later this week, they also flew over Aurora and Bulacan to airdrop relief goods.

Ronan Li, fire chief of the Fire and Rescue Team of the group, said on Tuesday that they provided relief goods through airdrop to the flooded villages. It was their second day of operations in the province.

They teamed up with Victor del Rosario Rice Mill Enterprise to stage their rescue and relief operations.

“We are common partners and they requested for us to assist,” Li said.

Victor del Rosario, who is based in San Leonardo town which was also swamped, said they only wanted to help. They also donated relief items that would be distributed via airdrop to typhoon victims which were difficult to access.

“Pag may nangangailangan naman uunahin mo yung tao…gusto lang namin tumulong,” he said.

(In times of need, you should prioritize the people…we only want to help.)

Li said it was Del Rosario’s team that cleared up Maharlika Highway which stranded motorists.

Del Rosario’s team cleared up Maharlika Highway on Monday.

“Meron silang payloader. Sila yung humatak sa truck sa gitna ng kalye para makadaan yung ibang rescue team para makaakyat dito. Malaking bagay ito, kami rin stranded sa baha,” Li said.

(They had a payloader. They moved the truck out of the road so that other rescue teams could get here. It was a big help. We, too, were stranded due to flooding.)

Also, on Tuesday, a team of joint disaster reduction local government units went to Nueva Ecija to help in rescue and relief efforts.

Asked if they were satisfied with the national government’s response on disasters, Li and Del Rosario refused to give a comment.

“Pag may pagkukulang man sila bayaan niyo na lang kami tumulong,” Del Rosario said.

(If their efforts were lacking, allow us to help.) CDG

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