Food, medical aid, doctors airlifted to Siargao

By Alexander Lopez | Philippine News Agency

BUTUAN CITY – The airlifting of food and medical supplies has begun to help the distressed residents of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, one of the areas devastated by Typhoon Odette.

In a Facebook post on Saturday (Dec. 18), Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas said an airplane carrying five tons of food, including medical supplies, and a team of doctors left Manila heading to the island.

“We expect a regular delivery of five tons of food per day through air transport,” Matugas said.

He also confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte would visit the severely-battered island on Saturday.

As of press time, communication lines, power, and water were still out in most parts of Siargao and Surigao City.

“We expect more satellite phones to be delivered to every town of Surigao del Norte in order to set up free ‘Tawag Centers’ for the residents to call their relatives outside of the province,” Matugas said.

On Dec. 17, Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas, in a statement, placed the typhoon’s damage to the island at P20 billion.

He added that he was in San Isidro Town conducting preemptive evacuation when “Odette” made its first landfall on the island.

Nine of the 20 municipalities in Surigao del Norte are situated in Siargao Island: Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar, San Benito, San Isidro, Santa Monica, and Socorro.

“We are safe. We were stranded at the municipal building of San Isidro at 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 16. The typhoon hit at 1:30 p.m. At 2:00 p.m., the strongest, probably category 4 typhoon battered San Isidro for two hours, which totally damaged buildings and other structures,” Matugas said. (PNA) – bny

Popular

Gov’t remains ‘relentless’ in supporting PH Air Force — PBBM

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s continued support to the Filipino airmen and airwomen as the Philippine Air Force (PAF)...

PBBM ‘rings’ CMEPA into effectivity

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Investments serve as the lifeblood of a successful and progressive nation, paving the way for an economy that adopts to the...

‘Best is yet to come’: PBBM rallies Alex Eala after WTA finals debut

By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency On Sunday, June 29, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered words of encouragement to tennis sensation Alex...

DOH opens online mental health support for Filipinos in Israel

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency The Department of Health (DOH) is extending psychosocial support to overseas Filipinos in Israel affected by...