SOGOD, Southern Leyte – Residents here on Thursday (Feb. 3) welcomed vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte not only to show their support to her candidacy but to thank her for the relief aid they received after their town was hit by Typhoon Odette in December.
Gigi Parado and her fellow residents held handmade placards written with “Daghang Salamat Inday Sara sa ayuda sama sa mga pagkaon, tubig, ug mga sinena (Thank you Inday Sara for the relief assistance like food, water and clothes),” as they patiently waited for the Davao City mayor’s arrival here on Thursday morning.
Southern Leyte was among the heavily affected provinces by Typhoon Odette.
“Karon, naghinay-hinay nami og bangon (We are now slowly recovering),” Parado said.
Residents here were among those who received the relief goods sent by the city government of Davao City to survivors of Typhoon Odette.
In December, Duterte and her presidential running mate Bongbong Marcos visited several typhoon-affected provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. They brought with them relief goods for the survivors.
Davao City has also distributed food packs given by Dabawenyos who opted to have their “Pahalipay sa Pasko,” a small gift from the city government, donated to the typhoon victims in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Last month, Duterte returned to Siargao and Dinagat Islands to bring more relief and housing materials for families who were left homeless. The initiative was in partnership with the AGIMAT Partylist.
The Day 3 of Duterte’s Mahalin Natin ang Pilipinas Ride started in Liloan, Southern Leyte, Thursday morning, officially starting the Visayas leg of the 28-day caravan that will end in Cotabato City before returning to Davao City at the end of February.
Upon her arrival in Liloan town, she met with Vice Governor Christopherson Yap along with 18 Southern Leyte town mayors.
Along the road, Sara made several stopovers to briefly greet her supporters.
The third day of the ride will end in Tacloban City. (HNP Media)
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