LEGAZPI CITY (PIA)—The Eastern Visayas response team’s joint disaster response efforts have expanded its relief distribution system to flood-affected barangays in Camarines Sur.
The team is a task force dedicated to the rescue, relief, water distribution, transportation, hauling, and communication efforts.
Sher Rysiah M. Saises, Officer-in-Charge of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division of the Office of Civil Defense Eastern Visayas, confirmed this in an interview at the Old Legazpi Airport, Legazpi City, Albay.
There were 227 response team members in the Bicol region, with 61 deployed in Camarines Sur and 166 in Legazpi City.
The inter-agency disaster response teams come from the different response agencies, namely the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Police Regional Office 8, the Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Maritime Police, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division (8ID), the City Government of Ormoc, and the Office of Civil Defense.
They also collaborate with other regions’ response teams and local government units to enhance resource sharing and operational support.
“With the combined efforts po ng ating pong mga, local government units, yung mga augmentation teams coming from the different regions at yung mga available na assets as augmentation ay mas napapalawak na po yung distribution po natin,” Saises said.
(With the combined efforts of our local government units, the augmentation teams coming from different regions, and the available assets as additional support, we have expanded our distribution efforts.)
Meanwhile, OCD-8 Regional Director Lord Byron P. Torrecarion recalled the support Region 5 provided after Super Typhoon Yolanda and emphasized the importance of returning the favor during Tropical Storm Kristine.
“It is but fitting that we are approaching the 11th anniversary of Yolanda this coming November 8, and during those dark days, we were fortunate to receive gracious help and assistance from Region 5. Now, we are given the opportunity to give back to Region 5 and to show that you are not alone. We are always here with you as your twin region and as your neighbor. There is always that camaraderie, that support, and that malasakit for every Filipino, no matter what region you belong to,” Torrecarion said.
The relief, rescue, and response operations started on October 26, 2024. (AAC, PIA Bicol)
