REPRESENTATIVE Ma. Lourdes “Marilou” Arroyo distributed additional 12,827 food packs to typhoon-affected families in the Fifth District of Negros Occidental.
On December 19, 2021, the lawmaker already distributed 4,900 food packs containing rice, sardines, and noodles to the affected families who lost their houses due to Typhoon Odette.
She also visited the badly-hit barangays in the district and handed over 7,927 food packs to Barangay Mahalang in Himamaylan City, Barangay Miranda in Hinigaran, Barangays Payao and Bi-ao in Binalbagan, Barangay Robles in La Castellana, Barangays Riverside and Makilignit in Isabela, and Barangay Poblacion in Moises Padilla as part of her second wave of assistance.
Arroyo, in her message during her visit to the affected barangays, encouraged the affected families to keep their spirits up after the onslaught of the typhoon.
“It is very unfortunate that we had a calamity right before Christmas and in the middle of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. During this difficult time, do not lose your hope,” she said.
Arroyo stressed the need to stand up and not to lose hope as she assured them of her continued help and support.
Aside from her personal donation, Arroyo also received assistance from Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and some senators.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to my colleagues in government and private organizations for their help to my district. Their donations helped a lot of families who were affected by this calamity,” Arroyo added.
Next week, the official is set to turn over the 1,000 sacks of rice donation from House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which will be divided among 117 barangays in Fifth District.
Typhoon Odette, which devastated many areas in the county, also caused significant damages to district leaving 25,859 destroyed houses and 62,855 partially damaged houses and four casualties.