Due to impassable roads Relief airlifted to mountain brgys

VALENCIA, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Philippines  – Due to the impassable roads going to this town’s mountain barangays, three helicopters were used to transport relief goods to victims of typhoon Sendong yesterday.

Since Tuesday, the Energy Development Corporation and the municipal government had to transport the goods by air.

Yesterday, the Sky Patrol of ABS-CBN and two choppers of the Philippine Air Force helped in transporting the goods to the mountain barangays, most of which were hosts of EDC’s geothermal power plants.

Authorities said 1,465 families in those areas were affected by Sendong, 690 of them were in Barangay Mala-unay, 450 in Puhagan, 325 in Caidiocan, 218 in Pulang Bato and 60 in Palinpinon.

A portion of Pulang Bato-Balili road was destroyed by the raging current of overflowing water from Ocoy River, and only motorcycles can pass through.

Most of the roads going to these villages were damaged and impassable and covered with mud and huge rocks brought about by the flood. Yet all of the affected families were able to receive the relief goods delivered to them. 

Each family got relief package of five kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles and drinking water. The next items to be transported there would be used clothing, authorities said. 

According to Mayor Enrique Gonzales, total damage of Sendong to their town was between P200 million and P300 million.

The town’s IT Park, which cost P50 million, beside the Ocoy River was destroyed, and the mayor said he already asked for help from Malacañang for the rehabilitation of the roads.

Last Saturday, Valencia was declared under a state of calamity and the LGU released P79.5 million in calamity funds.

Meanwhile, Gonzales complained that no one from the Office of Civil Defense had contacted him at the height of the typhoon. (FREEMAN)