DAVAO CITY — A Mindanao-based non-government organization is appealing for food, water and medicines for the people of Dinagat Island province as 95 percent of its structures were leveled following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette on December 16.
In his Facebook post Charlito "Kaloy" Manlupig, president of Balay Mindanaw Foundation said based on their team's rapid damage assessment and needs analysis in Dinagat Islands with Provincial Governor Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao and other key provincial officials last Sunday (Dec. 19), 95% of the 22,000 houses in the islands, or about 20,000 houses have been destroyed.
Manlupig said 15 deaths were also recorded. Dinagat Islands was placed under Signal No. 4 on December 16.
Dinagat Islands has about 23,000 households and a home to 130,000 individuals.
"Agriculture is totally damaged. The provincial government center is totally damaged including the COVID isolation facilities," Manlupig said.
He added that cases of diarrhea have been reported while "most areas outside San Jose (the provincial hospital) are unreachable."
Manlupig added that the prices of basic commodities are "exorbitantly high" with vegetables sold at P300 a kilo, while gas and diesel prices are at least P100/liter. He said gas and diesel are running out of supply.
The most urgent needs according to Balay Mindanaw include food, potable water, medicine, temporary shelter, immediate restoration of telecommunications, and electric power.
Manlupig said rice is urgently needed as the stock in the warehouse is good for only a month but are now all wet.
Gov. Bag-ao described the current landscape of Dinagat Islands as "reminiscent if not worse" than when Typhoon Yolanda hit in 2013.
"Dinagat Islands has been leveled to the ground by Super Typhoon Odette," Bag-ao said in a statement on Saturday, Dec. 18.
"So far, early preparation by our communities has ensured our survival. However, we have lost our homes. Walls and roofs were torn and blown off by Odette like paper," Bag-ao added as she appealed for help for the residents in the islands. She said even the capitol buildings have been destroyed.
"We have a dwindling supply of food and water. Electricity and telecommunications are down. This is why we urgently and humbly ask for everyone's help," Bag-ao appealed.
"We may have survived, but we cannot do the same in the coming days because of our limited capacities as an island province. Through your help, we will be able to rise again," she said.
Bag-ao added that the commercial and cargo vessels are now unsuitable for sea voyages, while the livelihood of the farmers and fisherfolk have been destroyed.
"The fields and boats of our farmers and fisherfolk have been decimated. Most of our commercial and cargo vessels, in spite of taking all necessary precautions, are now unsuitable for sea voyages effectively cutting us off from the rest of the country," she said.