Speaker, Tingog launch relief ops for Carina victims

MANILA, Philippines — In the wake of the devastating Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon that have wreaked havoc across Metro Manila as well as Northern and Central Luzon, the offices of the House Speaker and Tingog Partylist on Wednesday launched relief operations for thousands of flood victims, starting with those in Marikina City.

Speaker Martin Romualdez and Reps. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre of Tingog Partylist have been at the forefront of relief operations to provide an initial 20,000 food packs from the Disaster Relief Funds of the Speaker to aid and support affected communities, mobilizing resources and personnel to ensure that immediate assistance reaches those in dire need.

“The government, under the leadership of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., has shown its commitment and dedication to responding to the needs of the people during this calamity,” said the Speaker of the 300-member House of Representatives.

Speaker Romualdez said that President Marcos even went to the office of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to monitor the affected areas of Typhoon Carina and coordinate efforts to provide timely and effective relief.

“The President’s hands-on approach highlights the administration’s commitment to disaster response and resilience, ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in times of crisis,” the Speaker added.

According to House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada, the relief effort has prepared a total of 20,000 relief food packs that contain three kilos of rice, canned goods, coffee and other items.

In fact, Acidre said the Office of the Speaker and Tingog Partylist have provided hot meals and a liter of drinking water to 1,600 people in the Malanday Elementary School in Marikina who were affected by the floods through the Tingog Mobile Kitchen. They are eyeing 5,000 hot meals, he added.

“We have been preparing an initial 20,000 relief food packs. We started preparing since Saturday per the instruction of Speaker Romualdez. These are under the Disaster Relief Funds of the Speaker,” Gabonada said.

“We are currently doing delivery in different areas in Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City, Manila and Marikina. We are sourcing food packs directly from the source like grocery stores near the affected areas to cut delivery time and for quicker response to the needs of the affected communities,” he added.

Rep. Yedda Romualdez said their relief operations are designed to complement the initiatives undertaken by the national government.

“The focus is on addressing both immediate needs and long-term recovery, with particular attention given to vulnerable populations who have been most affected by the heavy rains and flooding,” she said.

“Our teams have been and will be deployed to the hardest-hit areas to deliver aid. Hindi pa lang kami makapasok sa mga apektadong lugar kasi hindi pa humihinto ang malakas ng ulan pero gagawin namin ito pag pwede na,” she noted, adding that they have been unable to access certain areas because of the continuous rains but will do so as soon as conditions allow.

Acidre emphasized the importance of a united response, working hand in hand with various stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the disaster and support community resilience.

“We stand ready to respond to any challenges that may arise, ensuring that our communities receive the support they need to recover and rebuild. Together, we will overcome this crisis and emerge stronger as a nation,” he added.