Three weeks since ‘Odette’, relief goods continue to pour in for typhoon victims


A new batch of relief goods was delivered by the military to victims of typhoon “Odette” nearly three weeks since its onslaught, the Philippine Army (PA) said Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Philippine Army personnel unload boxes of relief goods from a military truck in a camp in Butuan City. (Courtesy of Philippine Army)

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, PA spokesperson, said troops transported 47 tons of food packs and non-food items from the Army Headquarters in Taguig City to the affected areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

The soldiers from the main headquarters travelled 1,000 kilometers onboard 21 military trucks for three days to deliver the much-needed assistance.

Their first stop was in Southern Leyte where Vice Gov. Christopher Yap received nine military truckloads of relief goods and other essential supplies last January 2.

The local government collaborated with the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade to distribute the goods to the residents.

Meanwhile, the remaining relief goods were brought to the headquarters of the 4th Civil-Military Operations Battalion (4CMOBn) under the 4th Infantry Division in Butuan City on January 3. The said relief items were given away to residents of Surigao del Norte and Dinagat provinces in Eastern Mindanao.

In Central and Western Visayas, the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) launched relief mission “Tabang” which has already collected P56,856 in cash donations and relief goods.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., PA Commanding General, lauded the troops’ role in the multi-agency humanitarian assistance missions for the victims of Odette.

“I encourage our troops to continue their selfless service in easing the burden of our typhoon-stricken countrymen and helping them get back on their feet,” Brawner said.