Clad in boots and fatigue uniforms, Philippine Army (PA) personnel celebrated the New Year on Saturday, January 1, by transporting carpentry items and relief goods to areas that were hit by typhoon “Odette” more than two weeks ago.
Lt. Gen. Romao Brawner Jr., PA Commanding General, ordered the rebuilding of temporary shelters of the victims whose houses were completely destroyed by Odette.
In response, the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) sent carpentry teams to help residents rebuild their homes in the towns of Bontoc and Sogod in Southern Leyte.
The 8ID troops likewise continued clearing efforts on roads and pathways to improve access and mobility of the people in Maasin City, Southern Leyte.
Meanwhile, Army engineers also conducted clearing efforts in landslide-hit roads in the province.
Non-stop relief operations were also being undertaken by the military to provide the needs of typhoon victims in evacuation centers, Brawner said.
The Army Headquarters sent 21 truckloads of essential supplies worth P6.5 million to Southern Leyte and Surigao del Norte from Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Personnel from the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) also delivered 19 truckloads of essential items in Negros Occidental.
Fourteen truckloads of relief goods worth P5 million were also hauled and loaded by the Army into the Cebu-bound BRP Tarlac (LD601) of the Philippine Navy.
In Dinagat Islands, the 4th Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion delivered essential items and distributed food packs for families in Brgy. Poblacion in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.
“As we usher in the New Year —the Philippine Army, together with national government agencies, local government units, and other partners —will continue to work ‘round the clock to help and give hope to our typhoon-stricken kababayans,” Brawner remarked.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday, January 2, showed a total of 4,876,254 individuals were affected by Odette in 6,781 barangays in 11 regions.
Two more fatalities were recorded as the death toll increased to 407 while there were 78 missing and 1,147 injured victims.
Agricultural losses reached P6.69 billion while the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure was at P16.72 million.