Dumaguete Diocese sends relief to Palo, Leyte

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Diocese of Dumaguete, through its Social Action Center, Wednesday afternoon loaded a ten-wheeler truck of assorted relief goods for the victims of typhoon Yolanda-ravaged Palo town in Leyte.

SAC director Fr. Burton Villarmente said the relief goods will be ferried by barge from Negros Oriental via Cebu to Leyte where these will be distributed at the Archdiocese of Palo, headed by Archbishop John Du, former bishop of the Dumaguete Diocese.

Du earlier appealed for help after several areas under the jurisdiction of his archdiocese were still without relief aid after typhoon Yolanda battered Leyte, Samar and other parts of the Visayas last November 8.

The relief items consisted of canned goods, rice, noodles, used clothing, bottled water and other items which were donated through the Social Action Center in Dumaguete through various drop-off points.

Villarmente, who visited many places while in Leyte, described what he saw there as “unimaginable” with some areas still needing more humanitarian assistance as families were without shelter and facing shortage of relief aid such as food and water.

This is the second delivery of relief items sent to Leyte by the Diocese of Dumaguete. Earlier, Villarmente also went to Leyte with the ONE Rescue team headed by Dr. Kenneth Coo and Dr. Rosalind Yu.

A third batch of relief items for Leyte will be delivered via a C-130 plane as coordinated by the Philippine Army in Negros Oriental, the priest said.

Villarmente continues to appeal for more donations for the typhoon victims as he thanked those who had donated in cash or in kind for the relief aid. (FREEMAN)