S-O-S from Cagayan: Send typhoon relief
It’s hardly mentioned in predominantly politicized news, but hundreds of thousands of victims of Super Typhoon Lawin are in dire need of help.
The 315- kph howler leveled 26,000 homes in 12 Cagayan towns, mostly in Tuguegarao and Peñablanca. Roofs were blown off 96,000 more dwellings. Occupants have been evacuated to school buildings and tent villages.
There they need food and water; infant formula milk and cereals; medicines for colds, fever, diarrhea, pains, infections, and senior citizens’ maintenance pills.
Of course, clothes and footwear; blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets; bath and grooming kits; toiletries and disinfectants; flashlights and candles; radios and batteries.
The youths could use some toys, books, musical instruments, sports materials, card and board games – whatever can ease the trauma of disaster.
All eager to return home soonest, the folks need tarpaulin as temporary roofs, then G. I. sheets, umbrella nails, hammers, handsaws, paint, thinner, and other construction tools and supplies.
To resume normal lives, they need kitchenware, dining utensils, furniture, appliances, and telecoms gadgets. Also office supplies and materials.
Not only strong winds but also floodwaters and mud ruined workshops and farms. Days after the typhoon left, extremely hot weather withered whatever crops and trees were left standing, report James Navarette and Noel Navarro, general manager and executive liaison, respectively, of Wong Chu King Foundation, one of the first to organize relief.
Power lines were toppled; electricity would be restored only after the New Year.
It’s not true what some propagandists say, that Cagayan, Isabela, and Cordillera provinces need no ( foreign) aid. Photos and reports in foreign news websites depict the path of Typhoon Lawin as a bombed out zone. Victims manage to smile for the momentary photo- ops, but face grim futures off- camera.
In rushing to help, the Wong Chu King Foundation gave away 2,000 roofing sheets, 400 kilos of nails, and 150,000 bottles of water. It also brought thousands of food packs to nearby Tuao and Piat, Cagayan. Next in line would be livelihood assistance to the stricken folk, as the Wong Chu King Foundation has done in earlier disasters.
Tzu Chi- Philippines also distributed P10,000 each to a hundred penurious families in Barangay Balzain, Tuguegarao. Volunteers from the Buddhist charity also helped clean up flooded homes. NGOs, and civic and student associations have adopted other barrios for special care.
They can only do so much, though. Their generosity needs replicating nationwide. Cagayan and Isabela are among the top producers of rice, corn, and vegetables. Assisting farmers to get back on their feet would avert a food shortage.
Only 15 persons perished in the Northern Luzon super typhoon, compared to the 6,500 from Yolanda in Eastern Visayas three years and one day ago.
But because of the low fatality rate, there has been a tendency to overlook the relief and rehab of the hundreds of thousands of victims. They have no one to lean on except their countrymen.
Cagayan province reported only four deaths. Gov. Manuel Mamba believes that the low casualty resulted from early disaster preparations. Schools were suspended four days and offices two days before the super howler struck. Churches were made to open the doors to residents of light dwellings. Barangays were organized into buddy- neighbors to take in those in direr need. Still the gust was so
122,000 families have no roof over their heads; that only 15 perished tends to overshadow the need for emergency help.
wild it tore away the roofs of the comparatively sturdier houses.
Mamba is calling on kind souls to organize quick observation visits to Tuguegarao and Peñablanca. Donations in cash and kind are welcome.
The Cagayan provincial capitol has set up a relief operations center at the Arranz Sports Center, Tuguegarao City. Contact persons: Ms. Helen Donato, provincial social work officer, ( 0917) 7798840, or Atty. Charo Mamba- Villaflor, Governor’s chief- of- staff, ( 0917) 8393369.
Cash donations can be deposited to the Land Bank of the Phils., Provincial Government of Cagayan Trust Fund, Account No. 0122- 102785. Corresponding official receipts will be issued to acknowledge the donations.
Fr. Hugo Agabao of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish, Peñablanca, also is accepting donations. For cash: BPI Tuguegarao Junction branch, Account No. 1243- 1179- 13. His mobile: ( 0917) 5781667.
*** Ruling 9- 5, the Supreme Court is setting the burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani of plunderer- dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ wax replica. Not far away from where it will lie is the burial plot of a presidential security police dog. The symbolism is stark. This race has no concept of the noble or respect for its heroes. Its magistrates – Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez, Teresita de Castro, Jose Mendoza, and Estela Perlas- Bernabe – infer that traitors, bandits, and murderers, so long as former soldiers and Presidents, may be honored there too. Woe to this lost nation.
*** Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8- 10 a. m., DWIZ ( 882- AM).
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