Army: Relief goods reach isolated areas

From the Sun Star-Davao (Dec 11): Army: Relief goods reach isolated areas

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has delivered relief goods by air to three remote areas that have since last week not been penetrated by relief operations. The initial batch of goods from the Inter-Agency Relief Operations Center were delivered to Barangay Andap in New Bataan and Diwalwal on Mt. Diwata in Monkayo, both in Compostela Valley, and Barangay Pichon in Caraga, Davao Oriental. "The local government and the ground troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have given us information on communities that are deemed isolated or in distress. Once our helicopters located these areas, we immediately provide relief goods para pantawid gutom," said Tactical Operations Group-Davao chief Colonel Randy Tibayan in a press conference at the relief operation center set up at the Department of Public Works and Highways office in Panacan, Davao City.

Tibayan said they have reached isolated areas in Barangay Andap, which is among the hardest hit villages in Compostela Valley province. "At around 6 a.m., two helicopters were already performing relief operations para madalhan kaagad ang mga biktima ng pagkain dahil wala silang means na makalabas sa area. A total of 120 sacks of relief goods were already distributed to typhoon victims," Tibayan said. He said they are still trying to enter an isolated area on Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley. "Ito ang area na pinipilit naming pasukin tuwing umaga. For the past few days, we have been sending relief operations in the area since impassable ang daan nila pababa," said Tibayan.

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Jorge Segovia said in separate interview at the 10th Infantry Division Civil Military Operations Battalion headquarters at Camp Felix Apolinario that they have also located an isolated area in Barangay Pichon in Caraga, Davao Oriental. "This area was occupied by lumads. They were told to evacuate but they refused. So instead, we gave them relief goods," he said.

As of Tuesday morning, updates from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao showed there are a total of 850 dead, 1,792 injured and 611 missing in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte. Compostela Valley is the hardest hit with 514 dead, 401 injured and 499 missing, while the death toll in Davao Oriental has hit 336 with 1,390 injured and 111 missing.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/12/11/army-relief-goods-reach-isolated-areas-257884