LGUs devastated by 'Ambo' in Samar Island appeal for help

LOCAL government unit officials and residents in hard-hit areas are appealing for immediate help after Typhoon Ambo (Vongfong) devastated some parts in Samar island on May 14.

In Northern Samar, Governor Edwin Ongchuan said they need new or old tarpaulins for the temporary shelters particularly in Lapinig town.

On Sunday, May 17, the first batch of relief goods containing 100 sacks has been delivered to Lapinig, one of the hardest hit towns in the province.

"Each food pack contains five kilos of rice, six instant noodles, six cans of corned beef/ beef loaf/sardines, six sachets of coffee or chocolate drinks, and 1/2 kilo of Mung beans which is enough for two days for a family with five members", said Jenny Darish, provincial social welfare and development officer in a statement.

Several towns have waived their relief allocation in favor of Lapinig to increase the volume of relief goods being delivered, according to the Northern Samar Provincial Information Office.

These towns are Catarman, Allen, Laoang, Mondragon Palapag, Pambujan, and San Roque.

In Catubig town, Vice Mayor Dex Galit said they have declared a state of calamity after all of their 47 barangays experienced damage due to flooding and strong winds brought by Ambo.

Estimated number of families affected in Catubig is 9,030, while 1,806 houses were destroyed and 7,224 damaged.

Estimated total worth of damage to agriculture in Catubig is P105,196,400, while to infrastructure is P1,527,901.26.

"We need food, water, clothing and materials for the damaged houses," Galit told SunStar Philippines.

On Friday, May 15, almost the entire town of Catubig was submerged in flood.

In Oras, Eastern Samar, there is still no electricity and communication signal on Sunday, May 17.

"We are appealing for food assistance, shelter assistance, chainsaw for the cutting of toppled trees, rehabilitation and recovery on livelihoods, and immediate repair on infrastructure damages needed for direct services especially in times of health crisis," wrote Angel Balaca, information officer of Task Force Ambo in Oras.

Balaca said two people were killed while three others were injured in Oras.

Hard-hit towns in Eastern Samar include Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat and San Julian, according to the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) report submitted by the local government units.

In an initial report from Eastern Samar Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the typhoon affected 10,313 families in Oras; 5,774 families in Can-avid; 1,338 in Maslog; 4,571 families in Arteche; 4,546 families in San Policarpo; 11 families in Sulat; and 11 families in Taft.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Eastern Visayas said partial agricultural damage reported in the region was placed at 313 metric tons, affecting 193 hectares and 450 farmers, with a total value of P5.8 million, citing a report from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office-Eastern Visayas.

On Sunday, a total of 1,600 food boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) were transported by Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft at Catarman Airport, Northern Samar, while another 600 food boxes were transported by C-130 aircraft at Borongan Airport, Eastern Samar.

In Samar, electricity was fully restored in 442 of the 524 barangays under the Samar Electric Cooperative (Samelco)-II as of Sunday.

Call for help

Meanwhile, the Samar Island Press Club, Inc. (SIPC), in coordination with Samar Weekly Express (SWE) and other media counterparts, said it will conduct actual assessment and documentation and relief drive to communities including its fellow media workers in Northern and Eastern Samar badly hit by Typhoon Ambo.

"Ipakita naton nga bisan ano nga kalamidad, aato la kita, ug mayda bugto o kababayan nga pwede nira masandigan. Buligan ta hira." said SIPC President Rommel Rutor and SWE Editor Ricky Bautista.

To send cash assistance, kindly deposit at: Samar Island Press Club, Inc., RCBC Savings Account Nos.1351378006, Calbayog City Branch or Gcash: 09385004521.

In Tacloban City, advocacy group Voice of Hope and Sprout PH are selling cupcakes as fundraising for a cause for Eastern Samar typhoon victims.

"Every dozen cupcake you purchase will provide a meal for a family of 4-5," said Marie Tonette Grace Marticio, Tacloban-based journalist and member of Voice of Hope.

"Our funds are already exhausted due to Tarangnan (Samar) Operations, wherein we are still trying to gather donations as of the moment. For P250 a dozen you can satisfy your sweet cravings at the same time you can share a meal for a family. The number of dozen sold will be the number of families we will share a meal to," the groups said.

To support their fundraising drive, contact 0956-783-8333.

Car group Navara Nation Philippines-Eastern Visayas (NNP-EV), dubbed as "Angels on Wheels," is set to travel to Eastern Samar on May 20 to deliver relief goods and other essential items in response to Typhoon Ambo's devastation.