Gov. Arthur Yap (left) talks to some typhoon victims in Talibon town (right). The governor took time to visit the town in the northern part of Bohol on Dec. 21, 2021. Talibon is one of the towns severely affected by typhoon Odette. The governor and the provincial government of Bohol are doing their best to restore the normal condition of the province soonest. Photo courtesy of PRIMER.
The Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) has been undertaking massive relief operations following the onslaught of typhoon Odette.
Gov. Arthur Yap reported that massive relief operations are underway days following the fury of typhoon Odette.
The governor reported that he brought relief to the people of Talibon. It has been reported that the governor has prioritized the relief to the northern part of the province which have been severely hit by the typhoon. He visited Talibon town to personally assess the situation as he has plans to visit other areas which were obliterated by typhoon Odette’s ferocity on Dec. 16, 2021.
Yap said he has been trying to contact Talibon mayor Janette Garcia since Dec. 16, 2021 but to no avail due to the spotty communication lines.
“Same as before, we prioritize the island barangays where no one is capable of crossing to the mainland for food and water,” the governor said in his report to the people.
As of Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development
(OPSWD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)- Social and Welfare Development (SWAD) Boholwere able to distribute a total of 27 958 relief food packs and 20, 171 water bottles to local government units (LGU), namely: Pres. Carlos P. Garciw, Batuan, Loboc, Calape, Balilihan, Inabanga, Maribojoc, Loon, Ubay, Bien Unido, Dagohoy, Mabini, Buenavista, Danao, Getafe, Tubigon and Talibon.
Moreover, additional relief food packs and water bottles are also dispatched to the towns of Loon, Duero and Trinidad.
The cluster heads of Barug Bohol Committee gave the governor updates regarding road clearing operations and the status of utilities such as water and power.
The Barug Bohol Committee is the body composed of different clusters of the PGBh’s agencies providing updates and reports to the governor in terms of the status of the relief operations and rehabilitation efforts following the typhoon’s fallout.
ON POWER RESTORATION
As this developed, a team from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) provided a report to the governor about its efforts to restore power in Bohol following the typhoon.
According to the personnel from the NGCP, around five 138 kilovolt (KV) towers were leveled to the ground of which two are special towers that served as the backbone of the Leyte-Bohol Grid. Aside from these major towers, there are 58 69KV structures which have been toppled and now being restored.
With the report, it was agreed to focus on powering parts of Bohol from alternative source. There are two sources Bohol can use and these are Salcon’s power barge stationed in Ubay and Diesel power plant in barangay Dampas, Tagbilaran City, the governor revealed.
However, energizing Bohol from these sources can only happen if the distribution utilities, the Bohol Light Company, Bohol 1 and 2 Electric Cooperatives (Boheco 1 and 2), are ready to receive the power and distribute to their consumers, Yap explained.
Personnel from Meralco have arrived in the province to assist the distribution utilities in the rehabilitation and erection of electrical posts, which were toppled following the wrath of the typhoon, the governor reports.
The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) Task Force Kapatid is also sending 40 contingents, 6 boom trucks, 1 pick-up and 1 L-300 to help Bohol in power rehabilitation efforts, the governor mentioned in a report to the people of Bohol.
ON ROAD CLEARING
As regards road clearing operations, the Provincial Engineer’s Office gave an update showing that 57.45% or equivalent to 479 kilometers of provincial roads are now cleared from any obstruction.
ON SECURITY
The governor also received a report from the Public Safety cluster of Barug Bohol Committee that a total of 120 police officers from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) were deployed to Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Ubay, Bien Unido, Buenavista, Getafe, and Inabanga.
Police visibility is critical to ensure order and prevent crimes during deployment of food and water relief, the governor said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is also working with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)in ensuring that prices of goods and services are within the allowed limits given the province is now under a state of calamity.
On the other hand, the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army is requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to allow the former to use the runway of the old Tagbilaran City Airport for C-130 and Tiger Air mercy flights, reports reveal.
ON WATER SUPPLY
In another note, a team from Manila Water visited the Barug Bohol Operation Center to find out the best area where a water treatment plant will be placed. The governor said the plant will be installed near a steady water source such as a river.
HELP FROM THE RED CROSS
The governor also received a report that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has ready logistics and equipment for deployment such water tanks, food truck, ambulance, payloader and 6×6 truck.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
The PGBh has received an initial rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA) report coming from 22 LGUs.
The LGUs that provided reports areAlbur, Corella, Loon, Baclayon, Tubigon, Trinidad, Buenavista, Dagohoy, Sagbayan, Getafe, Bien Unido, Ubay, Inabanga, Sierra Bullones, Dimiao, Duero, Carmen, Bilar, Candijay, Alicia, Loboc and Guindulman.
The governor is still awaiting the reports from other LGUs so that the PGBh can find out the needs of every town. The report will then be forwarded to the Office of the President.
The shelter cluster of the Barug Bohol Committee has identified some families eligible for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program.
As of Dec. 21, 2022 there are 67, 212 identified eligible families from 11 LGUs namely: Loon, Trinidad, Buenavista, Albur, Corella, Dagohoy, Sierra Bullones, Talibon, Inabanga, Duero and Danao.
CASUALTIES
The death toll from the typhoon has reached not less than 103 deaths, as 12 persons remain missing and at least 639 individuals are reported injured, as of Dec. 22, 2021, based on the data from the PGBh.
DONORS
Yap thanked the following individuals and entities for their donations and support for Bohol at this time of need and they are: the City Government of Manila- P500,000; Metro Urdaneta Metro Club Inc -P250,000; Cong. Rolan Valerian of 2nd Dist of Manila – P100,000; Cong. Edward Maceda of 4th Dist of Manila – P100,000; Robbie Oca – P50,000 and Datu Arroyo – P 20,000.
“I wish also to thank JJ/ Cindy Damarillo, friends of Mel Stephen SIa, Manila donors care of Nutrimart and Just Sizzlin and PAG-ASA Ph for the packed food for our first responders, volunteer and front liners. Also to Senate President [Vicente] Tito Sotto for the donated goods, Tanduay distillers for the 499 boxes of bottled water. Special thanks to Mayor Sara Duterte for the 400 boxes of bottled water, 100 sacks of rice and 100 boxes of canned goods and to NGCP for the 1000 food packs,” the governor quipped.