ICES leads AdU relief ops in typhoon-hit Rizal town
Date Posted: December 17, 2020 at 01:58 PM
Victims of the typhoons Rolly and Ulysses at the in Rodriguez, Rizal continue to receive assistance from the community as the Integrated Community Extension Services (ICES) conducted relief operations in Sitio Wawa of Brgy. San Rafael last November 3.
ICES Director Fr. Rowen Carlos, CM led the initiative, in coordination with the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish of the Congregation of the Mission in Payatas.
At least 700 affected families were given grocery packages and clean water after flashfloods destroyed most of their houses and livelihood. Those whose houses were completely washed away are currently living with other families whose houses were spared.
“Grabe po ang lakas ng hangin tsaka tubig [noong bagyo] tapos po yung mga bahay tinamaan ng landslide, yung iba naman talagang lumubog sa tubig, tapos yung iba nagliparan yung yero,” Kuya Jojo, a volunteer and resident of the sitio, said.
He also revealed water rose faster as the nearby Wawa Dam also released significant amount of water during the downpours.
A good portion of the area’s mountains and slopes have also eroded to the rivers, and streams, bringing with them debris such as uprooted trees that also hit and damaged nearby housings.
Residents of Brgy. San Rafael asked for more relief efforts saying some sitios and other barangays have not received any assistance yet.
“May mabibigyan [ng relief], may hindi. May mga madalang talagang mabigyan kaya natutuwa sila pag nabibigyan sila,” Kuya Jojo said. “Kami po, kung hindi kami magpupursigi makakuha ng stub, hindi kami mabibigyan. ‘Yung mga nasa baba talaga ang bugbog ng relief.”
He also asked for non-food donations such as roofs, and other construction materials to be used in rebuilding their houses.
Meanwhile, a member of the Dumagat tribe living in the barangay told the Adamson News that the main concern for them is replacing their crops washed away by flood. At least 400 Dumagat live in the said area.
“Hindi naman po gaanong tinamaan ng baha iyong aming bahay. Ang amin po, mga pananim po namin ang nasalanta ng bagyo, kabuhayan po, baka po mga isang taon pa bago kami makabawi,” she said. “Sa ngayon po, nakikiamot [share] lang po kami sa kung sinong meron [food].”
Last December 9, ICES went back to Rodriguez for another relief operation.
SOWing with Vincent Helps
As relief operations of the Vincentian Community pile up through the Vincent Helps initiative, the ladies of Solidarity with Orphans and Widows (of victims of EJK, ExtraJudicial Killings) in Payatas continue to give their contributions, supplying eco-bags for the said program.
According to the ladies of SOW, Vincent Helps, with head Fr. Geowen Porciuncula, CM, used their eco-bags in the Tabang project. They were glad their crafts were being used in such tasks that assist the needy, especially the victims of natural calamities.
