Over 1,500 relief packs from Speaker's office, Tingog reach flood-stricken Zambales towns
The relief operations in Palauig, Zambales (Speaker's office)
Hundreds of flood victims in the province of Zambales benefitted from a relief drive facilitated by the offices of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list, even as Tropical Storm "Dodong" battered some parts of the country. Over the weekend, volunteers from these offices braved the rains brought by Dodong to bring relief packs to the affected families in the towns of Masinloc and Palauig in Zambales. Reports reaching the Speaker's office bared that, once in the area, the volunteers linked up with the office of Zambales 2nd district Rep. Doris Maniquiz received in order to conduct the distribution of aid. "There is practically no time to lose during disasters like typhoons and floods. We will do our best to help respond to your needs as we monitor the situation with other authorities. This assurance is not only for the people in Zambales but also for Filipinos affected by Dodong in other areas," Speaker Romualdez said in a statement Sunday, July 16. In the ensuing relief operation that was conducted from Saturday to Sunday, 441 relief packs were distributed to six barangays in Masinloc, while 1,217 relief packs were distributed to eight barangays in Palauig. The relief drive was carried out in coordination with the office of Vice Mayor Doris Ladines-Botolan. Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, wife of the Speaker, chairs the House Committee on Accounts. In Masinloc, the most populated evacuation centers were Collat Integrated School in Barangay Collat (1,324 families) and Sta. Rita Elementary School (1,063 families). Over in Palauig, which used covered courts as temporary shelters, the most evacuees were recorded in Barangay Sto. Tomas (290 families) and Barangay Liozon (250 families). Aware that it will take time for the flood victims to get back on their feet, the office of Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list have vowed to continue coordinating with local officials so they may be updated regarding their necessities.