Troops, TESDA help 'Pablo"victims

Surigao del Sur may not be the province worst-hit by typhoon “Pablo” but residents in the province were also affected, with many of them losing their homes during the height of the devastation.

To  help the recovery of the communities, the Army and the Technical Education and Skill  evelopment Authority (TESDA) have launched a project aimed at repairing the houses of residents in the town of Lingig.

Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th division, said 45 families have benefited from the “Operasyon Ayos Atip,” which started Thursday.

The operation involved TESDA personnel, soldiers from the 36th, 29th, and 75th Infantry Battalions, all of which are under the supervision of the 401st Brigade.

“This initiative was made in order to help the typhoon victims to fix their damaged hut and roofs,” Osias said.

“Despite the calamities and disasters that passed the country, the Filipinos are able to stand-up and move forward because of the volunteerism,” he added.

Osias said the spirit of volunteerism drove different groups to generate cash, materials, and manpower to help the victims of disasters.

The local government units provided the materials needed to repair the houses. Soldiers and civilians under TESDA Provincial Director Rey Cueva provided the manpower for the project.

“The volunteers wanted to help in the project so that the victims may celebrate this coming New Year in their homes with their families,” Osias said.

Beneficiaries of the project may increase to about 100 within the first quarter, he added.

Maj. Gen. Nestor Añonuevo, commander of the Army’s 4th division, encouraged the public to help the typhoon victims recover from the tragedy.

“The heart who wanted to help need no material resources to be able to do so, like your soldiers you can volunteer your skills and time to be able to help out others. The Division’s capacity to help in terms of material resources may be limited but your soldiers’ passion to help and serve the Filipino people is infinite,” he said.

Col. Romeo Gan, commander of the Army’s 401st brigade, urged the private sector and state agencies to provide assistance to residents in typhoon-hit areas of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.

The Navy will also help build temporary shelters for Davao Oriental residents displaced by typhoon “Pablo.”

Navy spokesman Col. Omar Tonsay said they have organized a multi-purpose hall construction project in the province.

The funds for the project will come from donations of Navy personnel and savings from cancelled holiday celebrations. The funds will be used to buy materials needed to build the temporary shelters.

Tonsay said the construction services would from the Naval Construction Brigade.

Typhoon “Pablo” has damaged more than 216,000 and has left more than 1,000 persons dead. – Alexis Romero