PAGSANJAN, Laguna — This town and the city of Cabuyao, which were hit by Typhoon Paeng, have received relief assistance from the Office of the Vice President-Disaster Operations Center (DOC).

Pagsanjan and Cabuyao each received 50 sacks of rice, 15 boxes of noodles, and 75 packs of biscuits from OVP-DOC delivered yesterday.

The OVP-DOC had its two rounds of relief operations in the province, distributing items to the city of San Pedro on November 1 and town of Paete and the cities of Biñan and Sta. Rosa, on November 9.

Pagsanjan Mayor Cesar Areza, who received the relief goods, said the OVP was the first to respond to their needs.

Areza also thanked the Vice President for sending the relief assistance which will be given to the affected families in riverside areas.

“Ang priority po ay itong mga tinamaan ng bagyong Paeng at ito po ang mga taong nasa riverside. Yung tulong po namin hindi sapat at kulang na kulang. Kayo lang po talaga ang tumulong una sa amin, wala pong ibang agency kaya po malaking bagay itong tulong na ito. Gagawin po namin kaagad na mapamigay ito para po sa aming mga kababayan na naapektohan ng bagyong Paeng,” the mayor said.

Areza added that the town was easily flooded as there are seven river tributaries across Pagsanjan.

Cabuyao Vice Mayor Leif Opiña, on the other hand, said most of the affected families in his city live around Laguna Lake and had to evacuate the night the typhoon hit the city.

“Napakarami po naming inilikas na mga kababayan doon po sa mga barangays na mababa along Laguna Lake,” he said.

“Ang challenge ngayon ay meron pa kaming mga areas, especially sa coastal barangays, na mataas pa rin ang tubig hanggang ngayon,” Opiña added.

The Vice Mayor, who was with some barangay captains of the city, thanked Vice President for the assistance sent.

“Sa ating pinakamanahal na Bise Presidente Sara Duterte, maraming salamat po sa inyong tulong at suporta para sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Cabuyao, Laguna. Makakaasa po kayo na sa pamamagitan po ng ating tanggapan sa city government, pati po sa ating mga kasamahan dito sa barangay, ay maipaparating po natin ang tulong sa lahat ng mga kababayang nangangailangan,” the mayor said.

The OVP-DOC had also distributed relief assistance to the City of Bacoor in Cavite, Maguindanao del Sur,
Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato City,
Hilongos and Bato in Southern Leyte, Zamboanga City, and the Province of Antique last November 4, and in the Province of Cagayan on November 9.

OVP MEDI