The Philippine Army (PA) turned-over today P2 million worth of relief goods at Bulado Port, Guihulngan City to benefit the most heavily-affected areas of the recent strong earthquake that hit Negros Oriental Province.
PA 3rd Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) handed over the relief goods to Social Welfare and Development Officers and local officials from the municipalities of Jimalalud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Ayungon and Guihulngan City.
Two helicopters from the Philippine Air Force also delivered relief goods in Barangay Owakan, Jimalalud and distributed the packed items to neighboring isolated barangays in the area to address the shortage of basic survival needs of affected families.
At present, army troopers of the 302 Brigade are still continuing their retrieval and relief operations in areas most affected by the earthquake in the 1st congressional district of Negros Oriental, this is said.
The army team is still exerting efforts in retrieving the remaining bodies buried yesterday at the two landslides sites at Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City and Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad.
Undersecretary Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and members of the International Humanitarian Country Team were transported by the Philippine Air Force helicopters to La Libertad and Guihulngan City to conduct damage and needs assessment in the affected areas.
The team of 302 Brigade Commander Col. Francisco Patrimonio also conducted ocular inspection in the municipalities of Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan City and in the two landslide areas. . (FCR/JCT/PIA NegOr)