OCDs, Albay to hold "Tabang MindaNOW" mission in ComVal, DavOr

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 8 (PIA) -- The Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) and provincial government of Albay will hold a medical, sanitary psycho-social and relief mission dubbed "Tabang MindaNow" for victims of typhoon Pablo in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental from Dec. 8 until Dec. 18.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 5 regional director Bernardo Alejandro, who is also chair of the BDRRMC, said the joint humanitarian mission will be conducted in the town of Bataan in Compostela Valley and the towns of Cateel, Baganga and Boston in Davao Oriental, which were devastated by typhoon Pablo on Wednesday.

Alejandro said the joint mission initially conducted preliminary damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) to the disaster-stricken provinces.

Alejandro said the 72-man composite team would assist in the already on-going relief operations and recovery and rehabilitation efforts of the local governments in the affected areas.

He furthered that the mission will bring long with the manpower a water purifying machine that can produce 33,000 liters of potable water per hour which will be distributed to the local residents in the area.

The humanitarian mission is a joint undertaking by the OCD 5, provincial government of Albay, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Army, Navy, and the Air Force, among others.

Also Thursday, Albay Governor Joey Salceda announced that the provincial government will donate P1 million in financial assistance to the disaster-stricken provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental in Mindanao,.

Salceda said donation of P500,000 each to Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental will be delivered along with the humanitarian mission to augment resources of local governments in providing the most needed relief goods and services of the residents of these areas hardest hit by typhoon. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)