While military personnel help typhoon victims first, some of them are also victims of the typhoon.
This is exactly what happened to Staff Sergeant Sonny Gutierrez PN(M), a member of the Navy's community service program (CSP) team in Masbate but was recalled in Legaspi to augment the Navy's relief teams.
With no electricity and cellphone signal, it took Gutierrez one week to learn that his house in Tiwi, Albay was partially destroyed by Typhoon Rolly from his friend in the police force. The destruction caused the rain water to flood their kitchen and forced his family to evacuate.
Soon as communication was restored, he was heartbroken and in despair hearing her wife and children over the phone, "Pa, mag-uli ka nguna, naraot na su harong ta," (Pa, uwi ka muna, nasira bahay natin). His wife also begged him in tears to come home.
Gutierrez felt helpless because he cannot go home to give his family comfort, but he remained calm and strong. He explained that after he finishes his duty, he will go home immediately and will do some repairs on their house.
Gutierrez is assigned at Civil Military Operations Unit of Naval Forces Southern Luzon in charge of the disaster response operations. He devoted his time helping in clearing operations and relief distribution, aware of the fact that he, too, needs help.
Gutierrez finally went home after his relief distribution task in Bula, Camarines Sur last November 20.
Operation Tabang Bicol: A Continuous Stakeholder Engagement
Three consecutive typhoons, Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses had caused the evacuation of some 760 families from three barangays in Bula, Camarines Sur, including 89 families that were left homeless and safely settled in makeshift tents in a nearby bridge.
This extreme situation has made the Philippine Navy's Civil Military Operations Unit (CMOU)-Southern Luzon to launch "Operation Tabang Bicol" in partnership with the civic groups Heart for Philippines-United Kingdom, Society of Junior Fellows Alumni Association Inc, Dios Mabalos Po Foundation Inc. and concerned individuals, Mr. Jojo Furiscal and Lt. Cdr. Siony Pontillas PN(Ret).
This stakeholder engagement and interagency collaboration successfully delivered on Nov. 20, 2020 some 760 relief packs to 575 families in three sitios of Barangay Ombao, including 72 families who lost their homes; 150 household in four sitios of Barangay Palsong; and 35 families of Barangay San Roque to include 17 who were left homeless.
The relief packs contain rice, canned goods, noodles, coffee, sugar, creamer and toiletries (bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush and face towel). The relief operations also provided the victims 135 containers of mineral water.
The relief distribution was participated in by organic and operational control (OPCON) personnel of Naval Forces Southern Luzon, reservists personnel from 312th Naval Squadron Reserve (NSR), barangay officials, Bula MDRRMO personnel and representatives of the civic organizations.
About six kilometers away from downtown Bula, Barangays Ombao and San Roque, which are surrounded by rice field, were turned into a lake because of the floods that reached up to the houses' roof. Some have lost not only their homes but also lost their crops, which are supposedly to be harvested in December. For now, they have no means of livelihood.
Likewise, Barangay Palsong located within the lakeside, was also flooded that caused the evacuation of some residents in a nearby school.
Lt. Orlan Orosco PN, the commanding officer of CMOU-SL, who conducted prior inspection of the said barangays, easily recognized the necessity for relief assistance and felt for himself the sufferings that the affected families are enduring. The inspection was joined by the Head of Bula Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Sgt. Isagani Rana PN(M)(Res) and SJFAAI and Heart for Philippines-UK representative.
According to the Philippine Navy, as of press time, the evacuees cannot return to their respective houses yet due to intermittent rain that remains a threat to their safety and wellbeing as well as their houses that are still submerged in water.
Meanwhile, some 135 households in Salvacion, Bato, Camarines Sur were also given relief packs in November 19. These families were also severely affected and evacuated to a higher ground because of the rising water from Bato Lake.
Since the onslaught of disaster in Bicol, the CMOU Southern Luzon has already distributed relief goods in various affected families in Ragay and Naga in CamSur, and Malinao and Tiwi in Albay province.
More similar activities are already lined-up in Camalig, Albay and for the Aeta community in Buhi, CamSur. (Philippine Navy/PIA-NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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