EastMinCom chief visits ‘Odette’ hit areas

This was the result of the assessment made by the soldiers under Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) on Friday (Dec. 17) during aerial inspections over the areas of Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte. 

EastMinCom chief Lieutenant General Greg Almerol who led the aerial inspection said that the roads from Butuan City going to Surigao City were already cleared by the troops and other government agencies but they remain aggressive in conducting relief operations in the affected areas.

“I saw firsthand the extent of the damage brought by the typhoon especially in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte and the people who are residing there really need our help through provision of relief goods and other forms of assistance,” Almerol added.

EastMinCom troops, Local Government Units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other responding government agencies also continue to work together in setting up and securing a total of 259 evacuation areas across the said provinces.

“Once again, let us rise above this challenge by doing what we know best, that is, by unleashing our spirit of Bayanihan. We have already shown this as we navigated the surge of Covid-19 cases when we established community pantries all over the country. Let us show it once again for the benefit of the thousands of Filipinos affected by the Typhoon,” Almerol urged other Filipinos.

EastMinCom’s new air assets, the four S-70i Blackhawk helicopters, and naval boats were also deployed in Dinagat Island and Siargao for the continuous conduct of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations including the transport of relief goods.

Several typhoon-hit areas also lost electricity, communication signal, and some roads were not passable when Almerol’s team first arrived at the scene but these were soon cleared as soldiers on the ground along with the LGUs and PNP worked together to clear the debris blocking the roads.

Almerol further said that the roads from Butuan City going to Surigao City were already cleared by the troops and other government agencies but they remain aggressive in conducting relief operations in the affected areas.

The command has activated its HADR operations all over Eastern Mindanao even before Typhoon Odette struck the country to facilitate preemptive evacuation.

Almerol, on the other hand, has called for unity amid the adversity as thousands of Filipinos were forced to leave their homes for safety during this Christmas season.

“This situation calls for a whole-of-nation approach in order to help our fellow Filipinos who are fighting for their survival during this calamitous event. During this season of giving, let us all come together to help Filipinos who are affected by Typhoon Odette in our little way,” Almerol said.