Sorsogon ‘clearing teams’ deployed to make Albay roads accessible

Photo from the Sorsogon Provincial Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — The provincial government of Sorsogon has dispatched its “clearing teams” to help Albay remove debris and other obstruction on its roads vital for the transport of essential goods to other provinces devastated by Super Typhoon Rolly.

Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero said Tuesday they decided to immediately deploy the teams and help other Bicol provinces badly-beaten by Rolly, as his province was miraculously spared from the super typhoon’s wrath.

Rolly, which has been dubbed as the world’s strongest tropical cyclone so far this year, lashed the Bicol Region and other provinces in Southern Luzon this past weekend, flattening some communities, wrecking properties, and claiming lives.

READ: Rolly leaves at least 16 dead, 3 missing in Bicol region

READ: Over 87,000 families evacuated in Bicol provinces due to Typhoon Rolly

According to Escudero, the clearing teams are composed of representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 903rd, 22nd, and 31st Infantry Division, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Sorsogon, the Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (SPDRRMO), and the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO).

Sorsogon ‘clearing teams’ deployed to make Albay roads accessible

The teams started their road clearing operations at Barangay Villa Hermosa, located at the boundary of Sorsogon and Daraga. Subsequently, the team would advance towards Polangui.

Rolly’s strong winds and rain caused massive lahar or mudflow from the Mayon Volcano, blocking roadways.

“Although we were also hit, the damage is not on the scale of what our fellow Bicolanos in other provinces have suffered. Like a good neighbor, it is our duty to help them,” Escudero said in a statement.

“As soon as ferry services resume, we will also send a similar group to the one we sent in Albay who will also conduct clearing operations as well as operate water filtration devices to make potable water available to everyone,” he added.

The teams also brought food packs that will be given to those who will help in the clearing operations under a food-for-work program.

Photo by Christian Cardano from the Office of Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero

Escudero then assured teams will also be sent to Catanduanes – the Bicol province believed to have suffered the hardest blow from Rolly.

The team bound for Catanduanes will bring 1,500 sacks of rice to be distributed to affected families in the province, he said.

“Kaunting tulong lamang ito para sa mga kapwa naming Bicolano para sama-sama at sabay-sabay kaming makabangon mula sa pinsalang dinulot ng bagyong Rolly sa ating rehiyon,” he added.

KGA