The Office of the Vice President (OVP) launched its relief aid operations in flood-hit Palawan province, where some 2,295 residents received packs of rice.
Photos were posted on Vice President Sara Duterte’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Jan. 11, showing officials and volunteers distributing relief goods to the beneficiaries.
According to the OVP, its Disaster Operations Center (OVP-DOC) went to Palawan province on Jan. 10 to extend help to the residents affected by the low pressure area that brought rains and flood.
The OVP-DOC, in coordination with the Palawan Provincial Government (PPG), Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Palawan sub-station, turned over 543 sacks of rice to the provincial government of Palawan.
The OVP-DOC said repacked rice equivalent to 4,200 kilograms (84 sacks) were distributed to the affected residents of Sofronio Española town.
In total, the OVP said it sent 27,000 kilos of rice to the different evacuation centers in the municipalities of Brooke’s Point and Sofronio Española.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa (We thank the) Palawan Provincial Government (PPG), Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), at (and) Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Palawan sub-station sa kanilang taos-pusong serbisyo upang mabigyan ng tulong ating mga apektadong kababayan (for their wholehearted service to provide help to our affected fellowmen),” the Facebook post read.
A statement from the OVP quoted Palawan’s Provincial Information Officer and lawyer Christian Jay Cojamco saying that Governor Victorino Socrates was thankful for the OVP for being “the first national government to deliver and respond to the province.”
Mayor Abner Rafael Tesorio of Sofronio Española town also thanked the OVP for the swift and immediate relief operations.
“Batid namin ang pagmamahal ng ating Bise Presidente sa aming natanggap. Hindi kami makapaniwala sa mabilis na pagtugon sa amin, at kahit na malayo ay napuntahan po kami (We can feel the love of our Vice President. We cannot believe the swift action and even though this is far, they went here),” Tesorio said.
Initial reports reveal that over 2,700 families or 8,600 individuals in 17 barangays of Brooke’s Point and Sofronio Española towns were affected by the flooding.
Aside from Palawan province, the OVP-DOC also distributed relief goods to flood-affected residents in Agusan del Norte province on Jan. 2.
With help from the Agusan del Norte PNP Regional Mobile Force and the local governments of Jabonga and Nasipit town, over 190 sacks of rice were distributed to 950 families in Agusan Del Norte.
The OVP-DOC, in coordination with the Surigao Satellite Office, OVP General Services Division (GSD), 75th IB 4ID Philippine Army, 36th IB 4ID Philippine Army, 2nd Special Force Philippine Army, and PNP 2nd Moblie Force also conducted relief operations to flood-affected areas in Surigao del Sur on Dec. 29.
The evacuees received over 500 sacks of rice and 500 relief boxes that contain essentials like water containers, sanitary items, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and face masks, the OVP said.
“The OVP-DOC are currently coordinating with different local government units for the delivery of relief goods to calamity-struck areas throughout the country,” the statement added.