RELIEF aid from Davao City bound for Cebu. (Keith Bacongco)
DAVAO CITY – The city government on Thursday morning, Oct. 2, dispatched a contingent of medical workers, social workers, and other support units to deliver at least 5,000 food packs for earthquake-hit communities in Cebu province.
City Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO chief Alfredo Baloran said that the contingent will assist in the ongoing relief operation efforts in Cebu.
Baloran did not say where the relief aid will be delivered as they have yet to coordinate with the incident command post (ICP) of the provincial government of Cebu.
A convoy of food aid-loaded dump trucks and other light vehicles departed this city at 6 a.m. and headed to Nasipit Port in Agusan del Norte at least 300 kilometers from this city.
Travel time is estimated to be seven to eight hours and will board ferry boats going to Cebu.
“The medical workers, composed of doctors and nurses, will travel by plane because they are immediately needed in the area,” said Baloran adding that the rest of the contingent is expected to arrive Friday morning.
Like in previous natural disasters that hit other parts of the country, the city government has been sending relief aid as well as financial assistance to affected communities.
The city’s 911 Urban Search and Rescue is equipped with among the most advanced emergency response equipment in the country.
A team of emergency responders from the USAR is on standby should the ICP in Cebu needed more hand in relief efforts.
Baloran said the city government may likely extend financial assistance to affected local government units.
“It’s better to send help than we are the ones being helped,” he said.