The Davao City Oplan “Tabang” distributed yesterday relief goods to nine barangays in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, a day after they did the same to the affected residents of Magsaysay also in the same province.
The city’s Oplan Tabang – composed of City Mayor’s Office, City Social Services and Development Office, City Information Office, City Engineer’s Office, Public Safety & Security Command Center, Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao, and civilian volunteers – aims to receive, repack and deliver relief goods from the people of Davao City to the earthquake victims who needed them most, at the right time and right place.
Yesterday, they distributed 2,604 food packs and other items, including trapals, blankets, clothes and medicines, to residents of Bansalan, a first-class town 80 kilometers south of this city.
On Wednesday, a total of 2,755 families, including members of the indigenous people in Magsaysay, received relief goods from Oplan Tabang.
The team delivered the goods to the villages of Kasuya, Bulucan, Balawinon, Bacungan, San Isidro, Lower and Upper Bala.
The quake damages around 7,400 homes, including their town hall, in the third-class municipality 90 kilometers south of this city.
Magsaysay Town Mayor Arthur Davin said many of his constituents are still trying to recover from the traumatic experience that the calamity had caused.
Davin said that he and his people drew strength from the people who helped them unhesitatingly.
“We feel that we are not alone in this difficult time through all people who helped us,” he said.
This week, the city government will continue to deliver aid as more families in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato temporarily displaced by recent quakes need more aid.
The city government has been aiding neighboring towns following the three strong earthquakes last month while it also tends to the needs of Davao City who also saw damages in some infrastructure.
Last Sunday, food packs were given to the affected families in Makilala.
As of Tuesday, the volume of relief packs already reached 10,780 containing two kilograms of rice, three canned goods, three noodles, water, and coffee.
Meantime, the city lauded volunteers, who flocked to the TFD headquarters in Sta. Ana Wharf daily to help in the repacking of goods.
TFD commander Col. Consolito Yecla thanked the people who volunteered to help affected families.
“We received overwhelming support from the people of Davao City. We have enough volunteers for the repacking of our goods,” he said.
Yecla said the volunteers have helped speed up the delivery of the goods to the affected areas.
“I already recommended to Mayor Sara (Duterte) that we will give two relief packs per family to distribute all the relief packs that the volunteers have packed,” Yecla said. (with CIO)
