Relief operations reach Batanes
by PGO (2009-11-20)

Almost five thousand bags of relief goods arrived in Batanes after Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng hit majority of Northern Luzon provinces.

Reports on national newspapers about Batanes experiencing food crisis prompted charitable organizations to send relief goods to the province.

Tina Monzon-Palma from the ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation called Governor Teleforo Castillejos informing him of the arriving relief goods via a C-130 military plane on October 19. Monzon-Palma also called Bishop Camilo D. Gregorio of the prelate of Batanes to assist on the distribution which the bishop willingly accepted. The foundation sent 494 sacks of relief goods - each sack containing 10 bags of packed rice, canned goods, noodles, and some biscuits.

The relief goods were later distributed to the various parishes who were managed the distribution to the affected families.

Governor Telesforo F. Castillejos said that it was better to have done it that way to avoid putting political color should the government did the distribution.

On a later date, another C-130 plane arrived to deliver 239 sacks of relief goods, 60 sacks of used clothing, and two generator sets in preparation for the possible damage super typhoon Ramil may bring.

Jerome C. Castillo, the provincial social, welfare and development officer, said the goods have not yet been distributed as a response to DSWD Secretary Ezperanza I. Cabral order that it should be kept as a stockpile foe possible damages that typhoon Ramil may bring or any other calamity that may happen.

"One of the prime mandate of the social welfare and development office is disaster management. The rule is ... 'pro-active and pre-emptive'. Bago pa mangyari ang disaster, eh ready na tayo. That is why the relief goods from the national office are not yet distributed," Castillo added.

He clarified, however, that the second batch of relief goods were sent by their national office based on Secretary Cabral's order to Usec. Yangco to have stockpiles of relief goods in social welfare offices ready for times of emergency. He said that it is also a way to dispel rumors that a certain politician claims to have requested the relief goods to boost his sagging popularity.

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