Cebuanos to extend help to victims of Typhoon ‘Rolly’

CEBU CITY --- Mayor Edgardo Labella has mobilized an assessment team, which will be sent to Bicol to determine what assistance the city government could give to the region hardest hit by Super Typhoon Rolly (international codename Goni), a city official on Tuesday, Nov. 3 said.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) head Ramil Ayuman said Labella met with the personnel of the CCDRRMO, Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Service (CCDSWS), and other offices on Nov. 3.

“Mayor Labella directed us to establish a city government-sanctioned relief operation center in Fuente Osmeña circle and in Cebu City Hall. Our residents who want to help our brothers and sisters in Bicol can drop in their relief goods,” Ayuman said.

Col. Josefino Ligan, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, also announced that his office is setting up a relief operation center at the city police headquarters inside the Camp Sotero Cabahug here.

CEBU’S HELP. Mayor Edgardo Labella (3rd from right) discusses with the personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management OfficE and the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Service the decision to send an assessment team to Bicol Region in a meeting at the Cebu City Hall on Tuesday (Nov. 3). (Photo courtesy of Cebu City Hall PIO)

He said the relief aid efforts are in support of the move of Police Regional Office (PRO-7) chief Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro to send a 100-man team to help Bicol’s clearing and relief operations.

Ligan said he directed all the police personnel assigned in different stations and special units of the CCPO to donate relief goods such as water, canned goods and used clothing for the typhoon victims in Region 5.

The city police also welcome donations from the residents, he added.

“I’m calling our brothers and sisters in Cebu City that in line with the ‘bayanihan (communal help) spirit’, as we are still reeling from the pandemic, a typhoon hit. In line with our being helpful as part of our culture, let’s help those who are affected by Typhoon Rolly in Bicol,” Ligan said during a press briefing.

Meanwhile, the PRO-7 personnel are now repacking goods that will be sent to Bicol.

The police in the region are accepting donations such as water, food, clothes, and blankets from individuals and organizations.

On Monday, Nov. 2, Secretary Michael Dino announced that his office will provide the logistics needed for the 100-man team ready for the typhoon response efforts.

Dino said the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas will also provide food packs and bottled water to the 100 police personnel who are from the PRO-7’s Crisis Response Battalion.

He said of the more than 390,000 individuals who are displaced, around 340,000 are at the different evacuation centers in Bicol.

Dino’s office has coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard for the immediate transport of the PRO-7 personnel and the relief goods.

He said four buses will be used by the battalion while two 10-wheeler wing vans will carry the relief goods. (PNA)