By Freddie Lazaro
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte - The provincial government of Ilocos Norte has launched ‘Team Balai’ which will facilitate / support the repair of houses damaged by Typhoon Ompong.
(Imee Marcos official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
‘Team Balai’ (Team Bahay) is a post-disaster initiative of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte to include the distribution of galvanized iron sheets as well as the hands-on repair assistance from the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and private contractors.
In addition to home repairs, the ‘Paspas Takder’ relief operations will hold medical missions, veterinary services for livestock, and the distribution of food packs, medicines, and seedlings.
“Paspas” is an Ilocano term for “hurry,” while “takder” translates to “stand up.”
Provincial Engineer Luciano Domingo, however, said ‘Team Balai’ will initially attend to partially damaged houses.
“We will repair soon the totally damaged homes as we are still requesting the needed GI sheets and other materials for the repair,” Domingo said.
As of September 28, Team Balai had visited a total of 18 barangays in Laoag City, the City of Batac, and the municipalities of Pasuquin, Bacarra, Badoc, Currimao, Vintar, and Piddig and distributed 3,362 GI sheets for the repair or replacement of roofs.
Another 3,372 GI sheets will be distributed to other towns. The construction materials were donated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII).