Various national and local government agencies began providing assistance to the Bicol Region, particularly in Masbate province, where tropical cyclone Opong made landfall twice on Friday.
In an interview, Masbate Governor Richard Kho expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the immediate government response to their needs.
“President, thank you very much for paying attention to Masbate, especially at a time when we are in need. With the cooperation of all agencies, our road-clearing efforts are making great progress, particularly on national highways. We are working to deliver relief goods to various municipalities in Masbate, facilitated by our national agencies,” he said in Filipino over the weekend.
Kho said the province needs various forms of assistance as Opong caused significant damage to buildings, communications, power and livelihood.
“We need food, as being an island province makes it difficult to obtain supplies. We require food packs for those affected. Shelter is one of our greatest challenges; many people need a place to stay. We did not anticipate this level of damage to our province, so we urgently need shelter,” he said.
“Medical care and medical supplies are also critical, and finally, we hope to restore livelihoods for our people, especially our farmers, as this should be the harvest season.”
In another interview, Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) Assistant Regional Director Jessar Adornado said all relevant government agencies are working to ensure that aid reaches those severely affected.
“Members of the Bicol Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (Bicol-DRRMC) are on hand to provide the necessary assistance to our fellow Bicolanos, particularly in Masbate,” he said.
The Bicol-DRRMC conducted an assessment in the province with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine Air Force.
“The Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection are continuously assisting in maintaining peace and order, as well as facilitating evacuations, relief and response,” Adornado said.
The DOH-5 has provided over PHP1.4 million worth of medicines, water containers, hygiene kits, breastfeeding kits and surgical masks.
Dr. Rosa Maria Rempillo, officer-in-charge Regional Director of DOH-5, said medical assistance and support are being extended to evacuees and residents.
The DSWD-5 dispatched over PHP38 million in relief aid to families and communities.
DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said five trucks of family food packs have arrived in Masbate province for distribution and support to various local government agencies.
He said social workers have begun assessments and verifications for potential assistance to all affected families, particularly farmers and fisherfolk.
The Department of Energy reported that full-scale efforts are underway to quickly restore electricity and energy services in areas affected by Opong across the country.
The provincial governments of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes likewise sent assistance, including relief and recovery efforts.
The city government of Legazpi pledged PHP500,000 in financial assistance to Masbate City.
According to the latest report from the OCD, nine casualties have been recorded while 15 were reported injured.
A total of 710 houses were partially damaged, while 66 were destroyed.
Some 26,433 families, or 98,907 individuals, are currently residing in evacuation centers or with relatives.
