Doctors on boats aid Marikina typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines — On board rubber boats, doctors have provided medical and relief assistance to victims of Typhoon Ulysses in Marikina.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) recently reactivated its “doctors on boats” program to deliver medical services and relief goods to families displaced by Typhoons Quinta and Rolly in the Bicol region.

Aside from distributing relief packages, PMA president Benito Atienza said they conducted medical and psychosocial mission for at least 430 families in Barangay Tumana, Marikina on Saturday.

“We will be going to Rizal and Cagayan Valley for our next medical and relief operations,” Atienza said.

He said they implemented physical distancing measures and other health protocols as up to 15 families were accommodated in evacuation centers.

“We distributed medicine, vitamins and relief goods to the evacuees,” Atienza said.

The evacuees complained of minor respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, he said.

Barangay Tumana chairman Ziffried Ancheta thanked the doctors for their generosity.

According to Atienza, the group will visit typhoon victims in Barangay Kasiglahan in Rodriguez and Montalban in Rizal as well as Cagayan.

The PMA launched the doctors on boats program in 2009 after Typhoon Ondoy struck Luzon.

More help for Marikina

The city governments of Valenzuela and Caloocan deployed equipment and personnel to assist in the clearing operations in Marikina.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian dispatched the city’s spare pay loaders, ambulances and fire trucks to Marikina to help in clearing the roads of debris and mud.

His brothers, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Rep. Wes Gatchalian, also turned over P6 million in financial assistance to victims of Typhoon Rolly in Bicol.

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan sent a team composed of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel to help clean Marikina roads of mud using shovels and brushes.

Earlier, the Navotas government deployed its amphibian vehicle, two rescue boats and two trucks to Marikina. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab