MANILA, Philippines — Relief operations are still being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard in areas devastated by Super Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) with relief items delivered to areas in Bohol, Surigao, Leyte, Palawan, and Cebu.
Many roads still remain impassable, making water transport crucial in bringing goods to affected areas. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, Odette’s total damage to infrastructure stood at P585.8 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways said in a statement.
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In its report to Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the PCG said that as of Wednesday, nine vessels that were dispatched are already unloading the needed relief items.
According to the PCG, MRVV-4401 (BRP Tubbataha) safely arrived in Tagbilaran, Bohol, on Tuesday, and is now unloading 30 sacks of rice, two drums of gasoline, a generator set, a box of canned tuna, and four rolls of tarpaulin.
Also now unloading relief items are the following PCG vessels:
- BRP Gabriela Silang arrived at the EVA Macapagal Terminal, Surigao City.
- BRP Cabra arrived at Ormoc City, Leyte.
- BRP Nueva Vizcaya arrived at Lapuz Wharf, Iloilo City.
- BRP Sindangan arrived at Surigao with 250 passengers and 22 motorcycles
- BRP Cape Engaño arrived at Puerto Princesa Port, Palawan.
- BRP Cape San Agustin now off Sibago Island, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) carrying bottles of mineral water, flashlights with batteries, sacks of rice, and other relief items from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
- BRP Bagacay now en route to Surigao City carrying food packs, bottled water, and sacks of rice.
- MRRV-4402 (MALABRIGO) carrying communications personnel, bottled water, and fuel, is now off Manlibat Point in Cebu.
The following PCG vessels are being prepared and will depart to unload relief items when ready:
- BRP Bojeador now in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
- BRP Batangas now in Roxas City, Palawan.
- BRP Habagat now in Manila to depart for Negros Occidental.
- BRP Corregidor now in Manila to depart for Palawan.
- BRP Capones now loading construction materials in Palawan to depart for the Kalayaan Island Group.
BRP Lapu Lapu also left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor on Wednesday with personnel of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources en route to Lucena City in Quezon.
The PCG also deployed its Cessna 2081 Caravan turboprop aircraft to conduct an aerial survey of Palawan and an assessment of the situation at the Kalaayan Island Group.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Odette also displaced 446,939 people or 109,601 families, forcing them to stay in 2,506 evacuation centers. There are also 107,377 people or 26,588 families seeking temporary shelter in friends or relatives.