HELP FOR MINDANAO. Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas (PCG 6) personnel on Sunday (Nov. 3, 2019) help transport family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD 6) to areas of Mindanao affected by the recent earthquakes. Government agencies and student organizations in Iloilo have also initiated relief operations for the Mindanao quake victims. (Photo courtesy of Mareicar Labinghisa)
ILOILO CITY -- Help from Iloilo is coming to families devastated by the recent earthquakes that struck parts of Mindanao as government agencies and other organizations here have already initiated relief operations.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD 6) has allotted a total of 10,000 family food packs and 1,000 pieces of "malong" (tube skirt) for the victims, based on the DSWD 6 statement released Monday evening.
Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, regional director of DSWD 6, has immediately instructed the shipment of the relief goods through the Philippine Coast Guard in Western Visayas (PCG 6).
Capt. Erlin Banliro, PCG-Iloilo, said in a phone interview Tuesday that the PCG’s MRRV 4411 Cape Engaño vessel was able to transport 3,000 family food packs and 1,000 pieces of malong on November 1.
On Nov. 3, the Cape Engaño was again able to ship 3,500 family food packs to Mindanao. The remaining family food packs from DSWD 6 will be transported by PCG in affected areas on Tuesday evening, she said.
Aside from the family food packs from the DSWD 6, the PCG in Western Visayas has also called for relief operations on October 31.
“For the whole PCG stations and sub-stations (in Western Visayas), we have lots of donations. We are just gathering them for us to request the fourth trip after we finish transporting the 10,000 family packs of DSWD 6,” Benliro said.
Donations gathered by PCG 6 are bottled water, canned goods, noodles, mats, tarpaulins or canvass, among others. Benliro said the donations are from local government units, civilian organizations, and other agencies.
She continued to call for those who want to extend help to Mindanao to drop off their donations at the PCG 6 headquarters at Bo. Obrero, Lapaz in this city or at any PCG station in the region.
Benliro said the donation of water pipes from industrial and construction companies is very much appreciated as the Regions 11 and 12 “water pipelines were badly damaged, to help them (be) restored,” he said.
The Mindanao earthquake also moved student organizations at University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV) through the University Student Council (USC) to help.
The UPV-USC has started on Monday the “Bangon Mindanao: A relief operation for the victims of earthquakes in Mindanao.”
Adrian Camposagrado, UPV-USC chairperson, said around 50 student organizations in UPV worked hand-in-hand to gather donations of food, water, mats, mosquito nets, tents and medicines.
“We have already started collecting and it’s good that some students, from the Undas break, had brought with them donations and goods from their homes,” Camposagrado said in a phone interview Monday afternoon.
“Bangon Mindanao” of the UPV-USC is not only exclusive for the UPV students, but extends to community high schools and communities, he said.
Although divided by seas, the UPV has a strong connection to the affected area since some of the students here are from regions of Mindanao.
“It is instilled in our minds that although we have not experienced the earthquake personally, we are united with them as fellow Filipinos. We still have access to food and water here, and let us unite with them for they are not alone in this challenge,” he said.
Drop-off points for “Bangon Mindanao” are located at UPV in Miag-ao, Iloilo City and Tacloban campuses.
Caposagrado said they are coordinating with student organizations in Mindanao for the transport of the donations. The first batch of goods from UPV will be transported on Friday, he said.
The Regional Field Unit 6 of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is also consolidating relief goods and other assistance from its employees and farmers associations to be sent to quake-hit areas in Mindanao.
“Within the week, probably we can already send help to Mindanao,” said James Earl Ogatis, DA Western Visayas information officer in an interview Monday. (PNA)
