MANDALUYONG CITY — The Office of the Vice President’s Disaster Operations Center (OVP-DOC), along with government and private groups, has continued conducting relief operations in areas affected by floods due to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

The OVP-DOC, in coordination with the Palawan Provincial Government (PPG), Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and the Philippine Coast Guard Palawan sub-station, turned over 543 sacks of rice to the provincial government of Palawan.

The OVP-DOC said repacked rice equivalent to 4,200 kilograms (84 sacks) were distributed to the affected residents of Sofronio Española town on January 10.

As of this writing, a total of 22,950 kgs of rice (459 sacks) is being distributed to over 2,295 families in various evacuation centres in Brooke's Point town.

Palawan’s Provincial Information Officer Atty. Christian Jay Cojamco said Governor Victorino Socrates was thankful for the OVP for being “the first national government to deliver and respond to the province.”

Mayor Abner Rafael Tesorio of Sofronio Española town also thanked the OVP for the swift and immediate relief operations.

“Batid namin ang pagmamahal ng ating Bise Presidente sa aming natanggap. Hindi kami makapaniwala sa mabilis na pagtugon sa amin, at kahit na malayo ay napuntahan po kami,” Tesorio said.

Initial reports reveal that over 2,700 families or 8,600 individuals in 17 barangays of Brooke’s Point and Sofronio Española towns were affected by the flooding.

On January 2, the OVP-DOC also distributed relief goods to flood-affected residents in Agusan del Norte province.

Over 190 sacks of rice were distributed, with help from the Agusan del Norte PNP Regional Mobile Force and the local governments of Jabonga and Nasipit town, to 950 families in Agusan Del Norte

The OVP-DOC, in coordination with the Surigao Satellite Office, OVP General Services Division (GSD), 75th IB 4ID Philippine Army, 36th IB 4ID Philippine Army, 2nd Special Force Philippine Army and PNP 2nd Moblie Force also conducted relief operations to flood-affected areas in Surigao del Sur on December 29.

Over 500 sacks of rice and 500 relief boxes containing essentials like water containers, sanitary items, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets and face masks were delivered to families in different evacuation centers in the province.

The OVP-DOC are currently coordinating with different local government units for the delivery of relief goods to calamity-struck areas throughout the country.

OVP MEDIA