CEBU CITY—Relief goods worth P1.3 million were sent to Bicol on Wednesday, November 4, to help those who were badly affected by typhoon Rolly.
The relief goods included 500 sacks of rice that came from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV), through the Cristine Lee Dino Foundation.
“This will be our initial relief operation for our brothers and sisters in Bicol. This in cooperation with different groups in Central Visayas,” said Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, chief of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7).
PRO 7 on Wednesday launched the “Food Bank on Wheels” to accept donations for the victims of typhoon Rolly.
Aside from sacks of rice, canned goods, bottled water and portable gas stoves were also shipped to Bicol aboard the Philippine Navy’s BRP Pangasinan vessel.
Lt. Col. Reggie Real will head the PRO 7 delegation that will distribute the food items to typhoon victims in Catanduanes, Guinobatan, Polangui and some parts in Camarines Sur and Masbate, Ferro said.
Ferro said the 100-man search and rescue team that the PRO-7 has formed was on standby in case their services will be needed in Bicol.
“I was directed by our Chief PNP to concentrate first on relief operations. Our 100-man team, mostly from our engineering (section), is composed of carpenters, electrician, mason and is ready any time our Chief PNP will ask us to deploy them,” said Ferro.
Ferro said more relief goods will be sent to Bicol as drop-off centers for donated items have been put up in different police offices.
“It will take time before brothers and sisters in Bicol will recover that’s why we are very thankful to various groups in Central Visayas and private groups or individuals for helping us in our relief efforts,” said Ferro.
The Cebu City government has also conducted its own relief campaign by putting up drop-off centers at the Fuente Rotunda and City Hall.
Personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will also be sent to Bicol to help in the clearing operations.