Supporters of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo immediately mobilized to help thousands of families who have evacuated as they braced for supertyphoon Odette (International name: Rai) which made its first landfall over Siargao Island shortly after noon on Thursday, December 16.
The Kakampinks have served hot food to evacuees while others packed relief goods. They are also collecting storm reports to share with other volunteers to assess where help is urgently needed.
On Thursday, the Robredo People’s Council (RPC) volunteers in Sogod, Southern Leyte served around 200 cups champorado at a school where the families are temporarily staying. In Taft, Eastern Samar, volunteers prepared lugaw for more than 700 evacuees who were staying at the Taft National High School, Municipal Evacuation Center, and the Taft Central Elementary School.
Lugaw and champorado shared by the Leni-Kiko Volunteers from the Robredo People’s Council (RPC) gave comfort to evacuees in Surigao City.
In Arteche, Eastern Samar and in Tacloban, Leyte, volunteers have begun packing relief goods for distribution. The Maasin Youth for Leni also mobilized and distributed relief packs in the villages of Sorosoro, Mambajao, Asuncion, Rizal, Tagnipa, and Mantahan in Southern Leyte.
Speaking to reporters at the Office of the Vice President’s Vaccine Express for Seafarers in Pasay City hours before Odette made landfall, Robredo said she was in touch with Surigao del Norte Governor Lalo Matugas and Dinagat Island Governor Kaka Bag-ao to coordinate with them and prepare for what they would need.
“Pag mga ganitong sitwasyon, hindi pwedeng next week ka pa mag-aasikaso. Dapat kung kailan kailangan, gawin na,” Robredo said in the interview.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Dinagat Island and Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands under Signal No. 4, as well as Southern Leyte and the eastern part of Bohol.
In a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon, Robredo said that the OVP is ready with prepositioned relief goods. She also urged those who are planning to have donation drives to wait until Friday, December 17, before mobilizing for everyone to have better information on what the affected areas will need. “Para lang po mas organized tayo,” the Vice President said.
