Chatto's reintegration program, Boholano survivors in EV brought back to Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — At least 31 Boholanos, who were residents in Eastern Visayas and survived the Yolanda devastation, were able to return to Bohol, as "balikbayans, under the reintegration program of Governor Edgar Chatto.

The Bohol reintegration program, a brainchild of Chatto, was aimed at bringing Boholanos (or paisanos) back to Bohol where they can start a new life after surviving Yolanda.

Chatto sent to Leyte and Samar several teams, by batch, the first of which was led by Eric Galan to search Boholanos there, disseminate the program to them and bring them back home to Bohol. Another group, consisted of "debriefers," was led by Duero municipal health officer Alan Torrefranca.

Chatto earlier sent to Leyte the trained men of Bohol's Telephone and Radio System for Integrated Emergency Response (TARSIER) to help in the retrieval of the bodies of Yolanda fatalities.

The returning Boholanos were taken care of by the Bohol team that ferried them from Leyte to Tagbilaran and then to Ubay town via the Navy ship Subaon in a more than 24-hour travel. Their relatives met their arrival at the Tapal wharf in Ubay early morning of Dec. 4.

The paisanos were then brought to the Ubay gym where they were given rice, canned goods and some pabaon to help them start a new life in Bohol. They were welcomed by Mayor Galicano Atup, Gen. Romeo Labador of the Central Command and Liza Quirog, head of the social economic environment management (SEEM) under Chatto's office.

"I heard this program and my prayers were answered for me to go home," said Amparo Cano Leornas, a 69-year-old widow who lived with her nephew at Barangay Tulay-Ward 6 in Guian town of Eastern Samar.

Juliefe Anib, 17, another Boholano survivor, told The Freeman she could not exactly described how it happened when she and her family took shelter at a covered court in Barangay Candahug in Palo town after their house was ravaged to the ground. She lost her brother Chomar, 26, who remained in their house to fetch her girlfriend. Juliefe and her brother Junrey, 20, were among those who availed themselves of the reintegration program.

Other "balikbayans" were: Policarpio Mejos, Alma Legetimas, Trisha Mae Legetimas Trina Joy Legetimas, Trixie Anne Legetimas, Roger Barili, Sr., Rodalyn Barili, Roger Barili Jr., Geugenia Singzon, Renalyn Singzon, Renardo Singzon Jr., Mary Jane Singzon, Joecris Bacolod, Florante Bacolod, Norman Echavez, Rodel Echavez, Federeto Datoy, Shirley Datoy, Rachel Datoy, Cedric Datoy, Gorgonio Datoy, Jay-ar Cuaton, Eddie Asunto, Josue Echavez, Monico, Caresiosa, REgine Singzon, Renaldo Singzon Sr. and Lolito Malmis.

Galan and his team said they went to as far as Guian town and Victory island, another village devastated by Yolanda to fetch the paisanos there, braving the stench of the un-retrieved corpses along the cities and towns as they traveled.

The Galan team spent sleepless nights due to mosquitoes, but they persevered to spread the good news from Bohol. They members said they could have gathered a hundred more paisanos, but then some of the latter had availed themselves instead of the government's "work for pay" program, involving the clearing of debris left by Yolanda.

Galan told The Freeman he did not know exactly how many Boholanos were adversely affected by the typhoon. (FREEMAN)