RELIEF OPS. Flood victims line up for the hot meal and bottled water being provided by the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list at the Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). The Offices of the House Speaker and Tingog Party-list has launched relief operations for thousands of flood victims in Metro Manila, as well as in Northern and Central Luzon. (Photo courtesy of Tingog)
MANILA – In the wake of the devastating effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon that have wreaked havoc across Metro Manila as well as in Northern and Central Luzon, the Offices of House Speaker and Tingog Party-list on Wednesday launched relief operations for thousands of flood victims, starting with those in Marikina City.
Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre were at the forefront of relief operations to provide an initial 20,000 food packs from the Disaster Relief Funds of the Speaker to aid and support affected communities, mobilizing resources and personnel to ensure that immediate assistance reaches those in dire need.
“The government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has shown its commitment and dedication to responding to the needs of the people during this calamity,” Romualdez said in a news release.
He cited Marcos’ presence at the office of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to monitor the affected areas of Typhoon Carina and coordinate efforts to provide timely and effective relief.
“The President’s hands-on approach highlights the administration’s commitment to disaster response and resilience, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in times of crisis,” Romualdez said.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada said preparations for the food packs that contain three kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee and other items began on Saturday and is still ongoing as of this writing.
“We are currently doing delivery in different areas in Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City, Manila and Marikina. We are sourcing out also food packs directly from the source like grocery stores near the affected areas to cut delivery time and for quicker response to the needs of the affected communities,” he said.
Acidre said the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list on Wednesday have provided hot meals and a liter of drinking water to 1,600 individuals at the Malanday Elementary School in Marikina who were affected by the floods through the Tingog Mobile Kitchen.
“Tuloy-tuloy po ang luto (The cooking is continuous). From 1,600 hot meals, we are eyeing 5,000 hot meals,” he said.
Rep. Yedda Romualdez, for her part, said their relief operations are designed to complement the initiatives undertaken by the national government.
“The focus is on addressing both immediate needs and long-term recovery, with particular attention given to vulnerable populations who have been most affected by the heavy rains and flooding,” she said.
“Our teams have been and will be deployed to the hardest-hit areas to deliver aid. Hindi pa lang kami makapasok sa mga apektadong lugar kasi hindi pa humihinto ang malakas ng ulan pero gagawin namin ito pag pwede na (We have not been able to enter the affected areas at the moment because of the heavy rains, but we will once it’s okay),” she added.
Meanwhile, Acidre commended the united response of volunteers who are working hand in hand with various stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the disaster and support community resilience.
“The spirit of bayanihan is evident in the collective efforts of volunteers, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners who have come together to support relief operations,” he said. (PNA)
