PNP-Zambo. Sur extends aid to typhoon victims in Tacloban City

By Gideon C. Corgue

PAGADIAN CITY – The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office (ZSPPO) has collected some 500 kilos of relief goods for the victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” in Central Visayas region particularly the hardest hit Tacloban City.

In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Senior Superintendent Sofronio Ecaldre, police provincial director, said that as a show of sympathy and support to typhoon victims, he directed the PNP personnel in the 24 municipalities through the chiefs of police to give in-kind assistance to the victims.

The relief goods include sacks of rice, boxes of canned goods, mineral water, instant noodles and used clothing, Ecaldre told the PIA.

Ecaldre said that ZSPPO’s initiative helps raise consciousness of each policeman that his role is not only confined to protecting the lives and properties of the civilians but also to “doing humanitarian services in order to alleviate the agony and hunger of people in distress.”

“A helping hand is the best thing that we can share to them at times like this,” said Ecaldre, who is also a victim of super typhoon Yolanda as his houses in Baranagay Sagchan in Tacloban City and Barangay No. 5, Salawahan, Eastern Samar were all wiped out by the typhoon. His family members were spared from the nature’s wrath, though.

Ecaldre said the relief goods that they had collected would be shared to the typhoon victims in Central Visayas and the Zamboanga crisis.

“The packed foods will be shared to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City,” Ecaldre said adding that immediate priorities of the victims are food and water.

“The used clothes will be transported to Zamboanga City for the war victims there since houses were burned by the MNLF rebels and they need clothes,” Ecaldre explained.  (PIA9)