Vice President Leni Robredo said the island province of Catanduanes is in dire need of food supply and housing materials in the wake of the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni). 

The Vice President made this assessment after visiting Catanduanes on Tuesday, November 3, the second day of her visit to typhoon-hit Bicol to check on the damage and provide relief goods to affect residents. 

“A lot of work will be required to rebuild. In the short term, food and housing materials are what are most needed,” Robredo said in a Facebook post at 4:40 pm.

The Vice President, who is a Bicolana, said “devastation was everywhere” after seeing how Rolly destroyed houses, buildings, government structures, and electrical lines in Catanduanes. 

The island province bore the brunt of the super typhoon, with power and communication lines still down and residents left to rely on deep wells for their water supply. (READ: Badly hit Catanduanes seeks aid, power and telco restoration in Rolly aftermath)

At least 20 people were killed after Rolly barreled across the Bicol and Southern Luzon regions. Of 20 casualties, 6 were from Catanduanes. 

Still, Robredo hailed the local government officials’ efforts to help residents recover and restore order in Catanduanes. 

“Despite the devastation, you can feel that the local governments are working. Streets are clean and orderly. Shops are still closed but you can see long lines at ATM Machines, hardware stores, gasoline stations, etc,” Robredo said.

The Vice President was accompanied by Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua, Catanduanes Representative Hector Sanchez, Bato town Mayor Johnny Rodulfo, and Barangay Batalay Captain Domingo Tribiana during her visit. 

Robredo also thanked Catanduanons, crediting their “sense of community” for the low number of casualties despite the strong typhoon.

“The bigger houses were opened to take in evacuees. Even the smaller ones made of concrete opened their doors to their neighbors. This sense of community was the greatest reason why we have few casualties,” Robredo said. 

Before visiting Catanduanes, the Vice President visited the typhoon-hit parts of her home province Camarines Sur, where residents also received aid from Robredo’s office.

Albay also needs housing materials

The Vice President then headed to Albay to check the situation in 3 areas: Tabaco City, and the towns of Tiwi and Guinobatan.

In a separate Facebook post, Robredo said she saw houses that were completely destroyed by the typhoon in Purok 1A in the coastal barangay of Bolo in Tiwi. Residents had evacuated to a nearby church, but its roof was also blown away.

Much like Catanduanes, Robredo said residents in those areas are in need of housing materials.

“I was asking them what they most need at the moment. Most of them said laminated sacks, which they can use as roof and walls for the temporary houses that they will build,” Robredo said.

According to the Vice President, Tiwi Mayor Ami Villanueva and Barangay Captain Benito Cilot are now hoping that a pending national government housing project would finally be constructed “so that they wouldn’t have to suffer this same fate over and over again.” – Rappler.com