Volunteers, donations arrive in Naga

CEBU, Philippines —  The incident might be tragic but it has proven yet again that people can unite, work together, and help each other in times of need.

This was the statement of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma on the outpouring of support for the survivors and for rescue efforts in Naga City, Cebu where massive landslides last Thursday that killed at least 35 and displaced at least 3,899.

Incident commander, Baltazar Tribunalo, Jr., described the public response as “overflowing”.

At least 700 volunteers have showed up at the Naga City Hall to help accept, segregate, and pack donations that included clothes, toiletries, sleeping kits, food, and cooking sets.

Foundations have also visited evacuation centers to bring relief goods to survivors.

These, on top of the financial aid sent to the city government.

Considering the scale of work that needs to be done, many have also volunteered in the search and rescue. At least 420 trained rescuers are on the ground at the landslides sites.

Cebu City, for one, sent its own Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Quick Response Teams to Naga to join the rescue and retrieval operations.

CCDRRMO Head Nagiel Bañacia said there are residents in Naga who has sent him messages to continue the search because their relatives are still missing.

“There was a secondary earth movement few hours from our insertion into the ground zero. Large part of the mountain ridge collapsed. The job is really dangerous and difficult especially when it’s raining. I told Mayor Christine Chiong that we were sent by Mayor Tom to help in whatever we can. I told her we will fill in the gaps as Big Brother,” Bañacia said.

Aside from manpower, the city will also supply water at the incident command post near the disaster site.

In Mandaue, the city’s Council will release P200,000 as cash assistance to the victims of the tragedy.

“We're in this together and we commit we'll stay in with Naga until this whole ordeal is done," said Mayor Luigi Quisumbing.

Mandaue, in fact, immediately sent personnel from Bantay Mandaue to help in the operations in Naga on the day of the incident.

Aside from the team, at least two mobile kitchens from the City Social Welfare Services Office were sent to the evacuation centers to aid social workers and staff in providing food packs and hot meals for the survivors.

"Mandaue is with you, Naga City," Quisumbing said. —  JMO (FREEMAN)