Australia gives 1K family tents

CEBU, Philippines - Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell handed at least 1,000 family tents to the Philippines for typhoon-hit victims Wednesday evening at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The items were received by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Central Command (Centcom) Commander Roy Deveraturda.

The tents would be divided among survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu and in eastern Visayas.

“Food, water, and health of the people affected by typhoon Yolanda remain pressing priorities, but the initial focus in those areas is giving way to one of the other priorities for the Philippine Government, like shelter,” Tweddell said.

He said the tents are only a temporary solution and are just a small part of their overall assistance to ensure that the affected residents have adequate shelter.

“We are helping people start to rebuild their lives and their homes in a more permanent way,” he said.

Tweddell said Australia’s close cooperation with the Philippines, as shown in its response to the call to help the victims, speaks volumes on the strength of the relationship between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Australian Army Defense Force members and an engineering team arrived in Ormoc City to check on the soundness of government infrastructures in the affected areas.

Centcom’s Lt. Rene Piabol, who is stationed at the air base, said they are ensuring that relief goods that arrive in Cebu from other countries would reach where they are most needed the soonest time possible.

“Hindi na namin inalis sa tarmac kasi pwede namang mabasa at para mas madali ang paghatid nito du’n sa (We no longer removed the tents from the tarmac. They won’t get wet, anyway. So they would be easier to bring to) eastern Visayas at (and) northern Cebu,” Piabol told The FREEMAN, in a phone interview.

He denied that some relief goods were left outside the warehouse due to shortage of storage area.

“Ang ibang (The other) goods pinadala na agad naming gaya ng (we bring immediately biscuits, noodles at tubig (and water),” he said.

He admitted that some of the goods, like medicines and milk, were taken first for examination to the Department of Health to ensure the safety of the victims before it will be sent out.

“(They others were in) Naka-Chinese print pa ‘yong iba at hindi na man naiintindihan ng mga tao ‘yun kaya dinala na ng (that cannot be understand by ordinary people so we brought them to the) DOH sa Bureau of Food and Drugs para ma-check bago ipamigay (for inspection before being handed out).”

Twedell would return sometime to inspect the progress of the Australian response to typhoon Yolanda. (FREEMAN)