By Gideon C. Corgue
A few days after super
typoon ‘Yolanda” had wrecked havoc in the Eastern Visayas region, the premiere
division of Philippine Army (PA), the 1st Infantry Tabak Division based
in Camp Major Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, spearheaded
the “Oplan Tabang Visayas” (Oplan Help Visayas) to assist the victims of the
calamity.
Overflowing support
“Oplan Tabang Visayas” got
active, strong support from national government agencies NGAs, non-government
organizations (NGOs), professionals, teachers, businessmen, students, among
others.
In-kind donations started
piling up in dropping centers set up at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
Gaisano Capital Mall, City Commercial Center and the Sto. Niño Parish.
“We opened our doors as a
drop-in center for donations of relief goods such as rice, canned goods,
medicines, clothing, etc. for the typhoon victims,” said PIA-9 Regional Director
Noemi B. Edaga adding that the agency strongly supported the Philippine Army’s
relief efforts since “the typhoon left thousands homeless and hungry and they
all need our immediate help.”
“Recorrida”
The Tabak troopers
intensified the relief operations by conducting “recorrida,” an appeal to the
public using a public address system with military vehicles, in the city as
well as in the municipalities of the province.
“We are happy to see that
even during our surprise visits to the municipalities, people were favorably
responding to our call by having their donations ready to be picked up by our
vehicles,” Lt. Franco Salvador Suelto said.
“We are thankful for the
overwhelming expression of support from the community,” Suelto added.
Big heart
Greater Innovation of Responsible
Lady Lawyers in Zamboanga del Sur (GIRLLZ) and Zamboanga del Sur Medical
Society (ZSMS) were among the professional organizations giving their donations
for the typhoon victims.
“We can’t just watch and
do nothing to the typhoon victims who are dying and suffering hunger. Our hearts are bleeding for them,” GIRLLZ
president Atty. Analyn Costanilla said.
“At first, we want to
extend our help to the victims but we did not hear any information on government’s
aircraft that would transport the relief goods to the devastated areas until we
read the info graphics posted at PIA’s facebook page, PIA ZamboSur, saying that
PIA is accepting donations, thus we immediately sent our relief goods there,”
Costanilla said.
Overwhelming support
At the start of packing the
goods, Costanilla said, “we were expecting to produce only four sacks of relief
goods but we were surprised to have more from our members.”
“We are overwhelmed by the
support extended by our members. We
never thought that we have produced one truckload of goods in just two days,”
Costanilla pointed out.
Volume of goods
After a call for help to
typhoon victims made in a holy mass by a parish priest of San Jose Parish in
Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, the parishioners immediately responded to the
call, and in just a few hours after, huge volume of relief goods came.
The parishioners,
teachers, students and other well-meaning individuals helped the parish in
re-packing the relief goods which accounted for 770 packs. These goods were turned-over
to PIA.
“It is only through our
help that the survivors can draw strength to keep them moving and going from
untold difficulties and sufferings,” Father Elvin Sabandal, the assistant
parish priest said.
Solidarity of support
Sabandal said “the
solidarity of support to help out the survivors had given them some comfort
that they are not alone in their efforts to recover from the tragedy.”
The Tabak division also thanked
all well-meaning individuals and organizations for sharing their time,
resources and efforts to help the typhoon survivors. (PIA9)