More aid readied for Southern Leyte town hit by ‘Tino’
TACLOBAN CITY—More government aid was expected to reach the town of Hinunangan in Southern Leyte, the locality worst-hit by Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) in Eastern Visayas, which swept through central Philippines on Nov. 4.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured residents of ongoing government assistance.
Gatchalian said DSWD was committed to helping families recover from the devastation, assuring residents the agency would continue its relief and rehabilitation programs in the town under it “to rise again.”
“The President said he has not abandoned you,” Gatchalian assured local officials and residents in a visit on Nov. 14, saying his presence in the town was upon the instruction of Mr. Marcos.
The President has so far visited the hard-hit provinces of Cebu and Negros Occidental, which accounted for most of the over 200 death toll of the typhoon.
On Friday, he returned to Cebu for the launching of the “Oplan Kontra Baha: Metro Cebu Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations” at Mahiga Creek near the M. Logarta Bridge, located between the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.
Widespread damage
About 9,775 families—or 32,459 individuals—were affected by the typhoon in Hinunangan. A total of 8,388 houses were damaged, including 472 that were totally destroyed, its disaster response office reported.
Power has yet to be fully restored in Hinunangan and in most parts of Southern Leyte after Tino made a landfall on Nov. 4 in Silago town, also in the province. Hinunangan has been under a state of calamity since Nov. 7.
During the visit, Gatchalian led the distribution of family food packs, nonfood items and cash relief to more than 400 affected families.
The DSWD also deployed its mobile kitchen to provide hot meals to evacuees, while the agency’s mobile command center helped restore power and communication support for ongoing relief operations.
Present during the activity were local officials led by Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado; and DSWD Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, Assistant Secretary Paul Ledesma and Regional Director Grace Subong.
