Pagadian Rotary Club, PRC donate relief goods for Zambo evacuees

By Gideon C. Corgue             

PAGADIAN CITY – In support of the national government efforts in providing immediate aid and relief assistance to thousands of evacuees affected by the standoff in Zamboanga City, two civic organizations here have been sending relief goods to the evacuees.

Rotary Club of Pagadian past president, Dr. Reynaldo Ortiz, said the Rotary Club of Makati Forbes Park and Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Zamboanga del Sur chapter sent on Sunday morning to the victims ready-to-cook food items such as 15 boxes of sardines, 15 boxes of noodles, and 10 sacks of 25 kilo rice.

The Rotary Club of Makati Forbes Park channeled its aid to the Rotary Club of Pagadian by sending money to buy goods here for the victims, as it would difficult to have goods sent from Manila due to cancellation of flights to Zamboanga City.

These food items, Ortiz said, are just the first batch of relief goods, while the second batch will be sent out on Tuesday “because the Red Cross vehicle cannot carry heavy loads.”

   

“The second batch of relief goods to be brought to Zamboanga City tomorrow, consist of 50 sacks of rice and other food items,” said Ortiz the concurrent chair of PRC board.

“The Rotary Club of Pagadian and PRC are actively working for the immediate distribution of relief goods to save thousands of civilian-evacuees from hunger,” Ortiz added.

Meanwhile, PRC administrator Hildaliza Muñoz said that in compliance with the national headquarter’s order to send staff/volunteers to Zamboanga City, a team composed of PRC staff and volunteers, who are highly trained on disaster management, was immediately dispatched to assist in the needs of the affected residents there.

“This team will assist the affected families who are now housed at the evacuation center at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex, Zamboanga City.  They will also provide psycho-social support services to the evacuees,” she added.

Chapter service representative for safety and disaster management Danilo Caballero said his group is ready to lend a helping hand to the evacuees. He admitted that it was his first time to assist victims of insurgency-related incident.

“We are very much ready to lend a helping hand to the evacuees,” Caballero declared. But he admitted he felt a bit nervous because he is not used to assisting victims of man-made disaster.

His group assisted the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro on December 18, 2012. (PIA9)