#ReliefPH: Batanes needs potable water, canned goods, fuel

MANILA, Philippines – The office of Batanes’ lone district representative, Henedina Abad, is calling on the public to help residents of the who were affected by Typhoons Ferdie (Meranti) and Gener (Malakas).

In a Facebook post, Rachel Ponce, a resident of Itbayat who is currently staying in Manila as Abad’s aide, pleaded for help as they have yet to contact some towns. She said that immediate needs include potable water and canned goods. 

Ponce said they “badly” need attention because the strength of the typhoon was never felt in Batanes before.

She said that since the C130 could not land in Itbayat, they are requesting a helicopter for the town.

Abad earlier said the province has still no power supply, and the communication lines in the towns of Basco, Itbayat, and Mahatao were cut.

“Our communities at the moment do not have access to water or electricity, and communication across the province is difficult to establish,” Abad said, adding that there was also great damage in agriculture and infrastructure.

Another aide of Abad said affected communities also need fuel. 

As of Friday, September 16, more than 10,200 people in Batanes have been affected by the typhoon, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

On Thursday, September 15, the whole Batanes province was placed under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ferdie. 

Where to send donations

According to Abad’s staff, donations can be brought to this address:

• 46 A. Eugenio Lopez Drive corner Samar Street, South Triangle, Quezon City (About 100 meters from EDSA)

Donors can also coordinate with the following authorized staff members of Abad if they wish to help: 

• Marco: 09989885468
• Nonna: 09183322954

Help is on the way

Meanwhile, DSWD is set to augment relief goods and emergency funds of the affected local government units.

“Assistance to our kababayan (countrymen) in Batanes affected by Ferdie and Gener is on the way. DSWD is ready to fulfill its augmentation role to the relief efforts of local government units of the province, which are the first responders,” Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said.

As of Friday, DSWD has about P844 million in standby funds, P182 million worth of family food packs, P220.5 million worth of food items, and P311.8 million worth of non-food items.

The DSWD National Resource Operations Office (NROO) is on standby and awaiting clearance from authorities to load and airlift 20,000 pieces of brown rice bars, 5,000 pieces of malong cloths, and 600 family food packs to Basco, Batanes, via C130 plane.

Prior to the typhoon, the following relief goods worth P620,200 had been prepositioned in Batanes, according to DSWD’s field office in Region II:

• 350 sacks of NFA rice
• 46 boxes of meat loaf
• 56 boxes of sausage
• 56 boxes of sardines packed into food packs

These have been distributed in affected areas like Basco, Uyugan, and Ivana. DSWD’s local office is still trying to reach the towns of Sabtang, Itbayat, and Magatao. 

The regional disaster management agency said it is set to fly to Basco on Saturday, September 17, via a C130 plane. The team was supposed to fly to Batanes on Thursday, but was not given clearance due to the bad weather. – Rappler.com