CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/27) — Fifteen more truckloads of assorted relief goods were on their way to disaster-stricken Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities on Monday, said Maj. Jacob Obligado, chief of the 10th Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion.
But this time, 11 of the 15 trucks carrying the goods which left Davao City on Monday noon will go to Iligan City and the rest to this city.
On Friday, 25 truckloads of relief goods were transported for the victims of tropical storm Sendong in the disaster-stricken cities.
Obligado told MindaNews over the phone that the relief goods came from different organizations and individuals.
“Galing pa rin ito sa mga foundations, mga non-government organizations and some individuals. More are still willing to help the flashflood victims,” he said.
The 10th Infantry Division consolidated the relief goods for the disaster-stricken cities through a public-private partnership effort known as “Pagtinabangay Caravan Alang sa CDO ug Iligan.”
Obligado said nine M35 military trucks and two KM450 trucks left Davao City 2p.m. Monday while two 40-footer container vans and two M35 trucks would leave late Monday evening, as the soldiers were still repacking goods at the Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters.
Obligado said the 10th TID borrowed a 40-foot container trailer van from Dole-Stanfilco while another one was facilitated by Royal Blood Rescue team from one of the trucking companies in Davao City.
He added that a team from Royal Blood Rescue was set to travel with the trucks going to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Monday evening to assist in the retrieval operations.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of North Cotabato donated at least P1 million worth of rice, canned goods, noodles, cash, used clothing, slippers and medicines for the flashflood victims.
In a statement, Gov. Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza has organized a team composed of the Diocese of Kidapawan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police-Provincial Office, Charm Radio, Fr. Lamberto F. Pragados Jr. of Makilala Parish, Makilala and local government units.
“It may not be enough to appease the victims of their pains nor replace their loss but we are hoping that through our simple gesture of concern, we can lighten their burden and make them feel the joy in Christmas,” said Taliño-Mendoza. (Keith Bacongco / MindaNews)
