Karlo leads relief ops

HOUSE assistant majority leader, Davao City Representative Karlo B. Nograles, has gone full-time in leading relief operations, personally bringing help to flood-devastated areas in Davao City's first district every day since Sunday.

The First District Congressional Office said that Nograles and his relief team has fully covered the flood-hit areas of the central district after daily round-the-clock operations since Sunday when the Davao river overflowed and badly affected at least 15 barangays in the city.

On Sunday, when the river currents went wild and breached the banks, Nograles decided to see for himself the devastation and, at the same time, lead the distribution of relief goods to affected residents.

On Day 1, Nograles and his disaster relief team already covered the worst-hit areas in the First District from morning until close to midnight. These are Sangilangan Ma-a with 500 affected families or 3,000 individuals; Lower Madapo in Bankerohan with 400 families or 1,701 individuals; El Rio in Bacaca with 336 families or 1,700 individuals; Grabahan in Bankerohan with 350 families or 1,600 individual; and San Rafael in Maa with 161 families or 450 individuals.

Aside from distributing relief items, Nograles also held consultations with his barangay leaders to figure out what other forms of help he could provide to the flood victims.

Also discussed by the congressman with community leaders are long-term projects to help flood victims like more funding for drainage rehabilitation, construction or rehabilitation of flood control dikes, and building more multi-purpose covered courts.

Community leaders noted that the numerous multi-purpose covered courts built over the years in the First District through the Nograles Oplan Kalamboan Program have been useful in housing flood evacuees.

While the city awaited the release of over P50 million in calamity funds, Nograles sustained his relief operations on Monday, the second day since disaster struck. Covered were the areas of Lower Madapo and Bankerohan. Relief operations then continued on Tuesday, the third consecutive day, when Nograles again led relief operations in Lower Madapo, Barangay 5-A Bankerohan and Riverside Maa.

On the fourth day, Wednesday, Nograles concentrated on the badly-affected communities of Gravahan in Ma-a and Matina.

The Nograles District Office said the congressman has prepared himself to personally respond to areas that were still in need of more help.

Nograles said he was thankful to the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the supply of the relief items. He personally credited the help to DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, Undersecretary Matt Montano and Regional Director Precy Razon.