DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 8, 2012) – Various humanitarian groups and civil organizations on Saturday conducted relief mission in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley.
Organizers said the mercy mission in four villages in Compostela town was participated by a broad network of church and church-backed organizations, schools, disaster response nongovernmental organizations, academe, youth and students, women, environmentalists, progressive groups, which coalesced as Bulig Alang sa Mindanao/Help Mindanao (BALSA Mindanao) are conducting today relief mission in 4 barangays of Compostela town in Compostela Valley Province which are badly hit by typhoon Pablo last December 4 this year.
“We preferred to conduct relief operations in barangays of Ngan, Mangayon, Osmena, and San Miguel in Compostela because no group, agency or even the local government unit has conducted disaster response activities compared to other areas in Compostela Valley Province,” BALSA Southern Mindanao convener and spokesperson Sr. Noemi Degala of Sisters’ Association in Mindanao said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
She said based on the rapid appraisal of needs of BALSA Southern Mindanao, more than 2,000 families from the four villages need food, water, medicines, sleeping mats, clothing, and vinyl for temporary shelters.
She said the local governments in Compostela Valley also expressed incapacity to hold full-scale relief and rescue operations. Thousands of families in Compostela town have been stranded and trapped due to massive floods and destruction which made a number of bridges and roads non-passable. Rescue operations were not possible due to the non-availability of rubber boats and other disaster response equipment and trained personnel, she said.
“So, we are pouring in our available yet limited resources to areas which are not yet covered by relief operations of other groups or government agencies. This is our way to fill-in the gaps in the relief and disaster response work and to contribute in the over-all efforts to help and rebuild the lives of the affected people of Southern Mindanao Region.”
“We are able to mobilize resources from various generous organizations and individuals here and abroad. We are able also to mobilize volunteers from the medical profession, social workers, youth and students, teachers, and religious organizations. Indeed, more than 200 volunteers are mobilized for relief operations today,” she said.
BALSA Southern Mindanao led by Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. (MISFI), Panalipdan Southern Mindanao, and Rural Missionaries of the Philippines–Southern Mindanao also conducted relief and rehabilitation interventions in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City last year after a powerful typhoon devastated the areas.
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