Soldiers in Yolanda-hit areas rebuild damaged camps

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Soldiers who are helping the areas hit by typhoon “Yolanda” are also trying to recover from the destruction caused by the typhoon.

Three military camps in Leyte were wiped out by the typhoon, forcing some soldiers to work on tents and makeshift offices.

The typhoon-struck troops, however, remain unfazed and are now reconstructing their camps while helping rebuild the lives of those they have sworn to protect.

Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino, chief of the Army’s 8th division, said the headquarters of the 803rd brigade, the 19th battalion and the 78th battalion were heavily damaged by “Yolanda.” Air-conditioning units and other office equipment were also damaged.

“The headquarters of the three units located in Leyte were washed out totally. Their facilities were also damaged,” Velarmino said on the sidelines of the 23rd anniversary of the Special Operation Command here.

He clarified that not all troops in those units were affected as some of them were deployed in the field. Army units in Samar also suffered minor damage.

Affected troops have set up tents while their military camps are being reconstructed.

“We are rebuilding them (headquarters) slowly,” Velarmino said.

“Soldiers are capable of finding remedies,” he added.

Velarmino said soldiers have started reoccupying the damaged camps. He cited the case  of 803rd brigade headquarters, which now has a new roof.

“The higher headquarters did not abandon us. They downloaded funds and we bought construction materials,” the military official said.

“We were also given GI (galvanized iron) sheets so we were able to rebuild,” he added.

Velarmino said millions are needed to rebuild the three camps but could not provide an exact figure.

“Yolanda” placed an added burden to soldiers who are conducting internal security operations and securing humanitarian teams.

Velarmino, however, said their anti-insurgency drive has not been hampered by the relief operations.

Soldiers continue to be part of the clearing operations and the distribution of relief goods, he added.

“The main retrieval operations have been completed but we still find some bodies when clearing debris,” Velarmino said.

Citing data from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Velarmino said authorities uncover an average of 10 to 15 bodies per day.

Yolanda, which ravaged the country last November, has claimed the lives of more than 6,200 persons and has damaged more than P36-billion worth of properties.