CEBU CITY – The provincial government of Biliran has come to the rescue for its constituents rushing to leave this typhoon-stricken city.
Exactly a week after typhoon Odette battered Metro Cebu, four Visayan Liner buses arrived in Cebu from Biliran on Thursday, Dec. 23, and transported close to 200 Biliranons back to their province.
The buses arrived in Cebu via Danao City past noon and traveled back to Biliran via the same route at 3 p.m.
Port terminals in the city have been full with travellers days after the typhoon struck.
The devastation of Odette such as cutting off electricity, water supply and telecommunications signal had caused so much inconvenience, prompting several people to go home to their provinces.
The influx of passengers has made the travel difficult.
Aware of the situation, Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina tasked the province's Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to get in touch with Biliranons needing transportation from Cebu going back home, said Jennifer Pitao, social welfare aide of the province's Department of Social Welfare and Development.
"In our list, a total of 255 passengers contacted our PDRRMO to avail of the free transportation," Pitao said.
Aside from the free transportation, each traveller was also given by Espina with meal allowance worth P150 on top of free bottled water.
"Some of the travellers that we picked up are Biliranons who have been living here, or those who are working or studying here. Some were in Cebu to stroll but got stranded after the typhoon struck," Pitao said.
Abigail Ticol, one of the Biliranons who availed of the free trip, heaved a huge sigh of relief upon learning the province's initiative.
"We are very thankful to Governor Espina. It has been very difficult here because prices of basic commodities have increased," said Ticol, who works as a teacher in one of the universities in the city.
Ticol, a native of Barangay Cabucgayan, Biliran, said she has been trying to go home but couldn't bear the long lines in ticketing offices.
"I have been lining up but couldn't buy a ticket. Lines have been very long in terminals," Ticol said.