Three victims shipped to Cebu for treatment

THREE critically injured persons from the quake-struck town of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, were delivered to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) via airlift from Dumaguete City Hospital yesterday.

Capt. Ares Makailing of the Philippine Air Force said they arrived at their headquarters at 10:15 a.m. and transported the patients by ambulance to the VSMMC’s trauma center at 11 a.m.

Hospital information officer Nonoy Mongaya identified the patients are 33-year-old Felia Acabal and 7-year-old Nicalona Mejares. A firewall collapsed on Mejares during a landslide.

Both sustained injuries on their left legs while an elderly patient who has yet to be identified incurred spinal injuries.

Mongaya said other hospitals in Negros Oriental cannot accommodate more patients.

He said a 4-year-old girl who suffered facial injury and needs a CT scan will also be transported to Cebu today.

Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Central Command spokesman, said they already sent troops to Negros Oriental to assist in the rescue operations.

He said the death toll stands at 26 dead and 71 missing.

The epicenter of the 6.9 earthquake that hit the Visayas area last Monday morning was recorded in Tayasan in Negros Oriental, which is two towns away from Guihulngan.

Cebuanos who took part in the rescue and relief missions in Negros Oriental were disheartened to see several people stop their convoy at the road to ask for food and water.

Capt. Narciso Boy Tablate of Inayagan, Naga City, Cebu, who heads the Rescue 761 team, lamented that he saw people waving their hands asking them to give them food and water.

“If we give them our supplies, we won’t have anything left,” Tablate said.

Their convoy was headed to Giuhulngan and La Libertad towns, two of the hardest-hit areas.

At the landslide site in barangay Sulonggon, La Libertad, Tablate said they have to get their own food.

Social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) also faced the same problem.

DSWD-7 information officer Jaybee Binghay said they were unable to stop for residents who asked for their supplies during their route to Guihulngan.

Binghay said their 2,000 family packs of foods and used clothing were already appropriated for families in the towns of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Bindoy and Tayasan.

Binghay said they have to remove the DSWD streamers that hung from their two big trucks during their route from San Carlos City towards Negros Oriental.

They reached Guihulngan at noontime when President Benigno Aquino III visited the area.

She said the assistance maybe too slow but the people should understand that it’s difficult to travel because of the damage roads and bridges.

About 1,400 family packs were distributed yesterday afternoon to Guihulngan, while 200 family packs will be delivered to La Libertad, 300 packs for Bindoy and 100 food packs for Tayasan.

Each food pack has three kilos of rice, canned goods and used clothing. They also delivered mats, blankets, mosquito nets, slippers and tents.

Tablate, who is also vice president of the Federation of Radio Clubs under the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC), said they helped in the search for 42 missing people in barangay Sulonggon, La Libertad town.

Cebu Coast Guard station commander Rolando Punzalan said two Cebu-based search-and-rescue vessels are already in Negros Oriental to transport the food and relief items together with the rescuers and medical volunteers.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he is asking the Cebu City Council to extend P5-million assistance for earthquake-affected towns in Negros Oriental.

As chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC-7), Rama said he is also asking other local government units (LGUs) under the council to extend their financial assistance to the affected towns.

Pending the release of financial assistance, the Cebu city government sent three paramedics and 300 bags of dextrose to Negros Oriental.

Rama gave his contact numbers yesterday to those asking for assistance.

He may be reached through cell phone number 0917-3284711 and landline no. 416-8686. With a story from Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya