Families in Northern Samar and Bicol Region greeted the new year devastated as Tropical Depression Usman hit the region two days after Christmas.
When the dike in Brgy. West Carisac in Libon, Albay was destroyed during the onslaught of TD Usman, flood waters reached Jocelyn Ramos’ house. “Iyong kubo po namin, inanod niya po nang buo,” she recalled. (The storm washed out our nipa hut.)
Aside from their nipa hut, pets and animals which were sources of their livelihood such as puppies, pigs, and chicken, were also washed out by the storm.
In 2017, the same dike, though minimal, was also destroyed. Barangay Captain Judy Malagueno said it was repaired through temporary sandbagging.
“Mahirap kasi new year, nagkataon pang ito ang nangyari,” Malagueno expressed. (It is hard and it saddens us that this happened when we are just waiting for the new year to come.)
Ramos’ family is just one of the 6,960 families who received relief packs from ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Operation Sagip. Through the donations, the disaster and emergency humanitarian assistance program reached the affected areas of Northern Samar, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Sorsogon.
“Malaking pasalamat po ng aming mga residente po sa barangay na mayroong tumulong sa amin ngayon,” the barangay captain said. (The residents are very grateful for the help given to us.)
A screenshot from a video report uploaded in news.abs-cbn.com: Jocelyn Ramos waddles on water to get inside their nipa hut after the havoc of Tropical Depression Usman in Libon, Albay
Help for Usman Victims Pour
As news on the havoc caused by TD Usman continued, different organizations reached out.
Recently, students and teachers from Heroes Academy from Cavite, corporate offices and non-profit organizations such as P. IMES and IMES Global Inc., and People Management Association of the Philippines went to Operation Sagip to donate cash and in-kind donations.
Aside from donating goods, Heroes Academy also plans to volunteer in Operation Sagip’s upcoming relief operations.
Likewise, Glenn Laura Remojo, Corporate Social Responsibility Head of P. IMES shared, “Iyong mga empleyado namin, sila ang nagdonate, kasama na ang IMES Global Inc., na connected din sa amin.” (Our employees, together with IMES Global Inc.’s employees donated cash and in-kind.)
Turn-over of donations for Usman-affected families from different groups (L-R) Teachers and Students from Heroes Academy, P. IMES and IMES Global Inc., and People Management Association of the Philippines.
To know more about Operation Sagip’s Usman efforts, follow #SagipUsman or call 411-4995 to reach out.