Relief Operations at
San Jose de Buan ongoing
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January
20, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY –
Relief operations to the isolated town of San Jose de Buan town in the
province is still ongoing, reports coming from the 8th Infantry
Division commanding officer and the municipal agriculturist stated.
Without let up and
unmindful of the obstacles that hindered them for days from finally
reaching the isolated town, the relief operations team went on,
knowing that at the end of the road are people who are hungry not only
of food but also of care from their fellowmen.
Major General Mario
Chan through a text message informed that three KM450 off-road
vehicles transported 63 sacks of GMA Kapuso Foundation relief goods
from Barangay Calapi, Motiong, Samar at 10:50 in the morning of
January 20.
The relief goods
arrived at Barangay Babaclayon at San Jose de Buan at 11:30 in the
morning.
At press time, at
about 12:19 noontime, 20 sacks are being transported by foot from
Babaclayon to the pick up point at San Jose de Buan for further
transporting by military trucks to the town proper of San Jose de Buan.
The helicopter of the
Philippine Air Force attempted to bring in relief goods in the morning
of January 19 but it was aborted due to inclement weather condition.
On January 17, joint
forces of the military, police and local residents were able to clear
the landslide debris that blocked the road going to San Jose de Buan
poblacion.
Also on January 17,
relief goods from the GMA Kapuso Foundation reached the town but the
team was able to distribute very limited number of food packs because
of bad weather.
Mr. Rafael Llauderes,
the OIC Municipal Agriculturist of San Jose de Buan said that on
January 19, the helicopter of the Tactical Operations Group of the
Philippine Air Force attempted to bring in relief goods to San Jose de
Buan, but the operations was aborted because of bad weather.
However, relief
operations of the local government unit under the leadership of Mayor
Rebato went on, and were able to dispose 180 bags of rice plus
sardines and instant noodles.
Mr. Llauderes said
that the people are really in dire need of food after having been
isolated for several days.
He also expressed
appreciation to the military particularly the 34th Infantry Battalion
for not leaving the municipality alone. Instead, the troopers led in
finding ways to make the necessary temporary repairs to make the roads
and the timber bridges passable even by just single motorcycles.
