by Jasper Marie O. Rucat
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL (PIA)–Misamisnons who were devastated by flash floods thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for personally visiting Misamis Occidental to deliver goods and cash assistance to flood-affected families, January 11.
Rolly Bulawin, 47, from Oroquieta City lost his home, December 26, when a strong current of water washed away their house and three other neighboring houses.
He is thankful that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is providing goods to the flood-affected families and personally traveling to the province to assess the situation.
“Pagka 26 sa buntag didto na dayon nagsugod gisaka ang tubig nga misaka og balik. Gihawa nami. Pag-abot sa alas 7 sa gabii, ang balay sa among silingan naanod gyud. Tulo to ka balay. Karon gyud ang pinakagrabe kay giabot naman sa atop,” he said.
(On December 26th, the floodwaters began to rise again. We evacuated immediately. At 7:00 p.m., the house of our neighbor got washed away. A total of three houses. This is the most devastating because the water reached the roof)
If given the chance to speak to the President, he said, “Mangayo ko’g pasalamat niya nga nakaanhi siya tapos nanghatag siyag ayuda sa mga katawhan di-ani. Dako akong pasalamat nga nakaanhi siya. Hulog siya ng langit.”
(I want to say thank you to him for being able to visit and for giving assistance to people here. I am grateful that he is here. He is sent from above.)
Rolly Egoc, 55, of Barangay Talic, Oroquieta City, and a recipient of assistance here, shared that the flood on December 26 completely destroyed their house.
“Among balay naanod gyud, pero gisuguro lang namo among kinabuhi. Wala naman mi balay, gidagan na lang mi sa barangay. Gi-edad nalang ko’g 55, karon pa gyud ko naka-experience aning bahaa. Didto mi gahigdaan sa among silingan nga guba ilang silong, naghanig mi karton, tua mi galigamo. Pasalamat mi sa mga nanghatag og pagkaon, bugas. Mao among gikalingawan lung-ag.”
(Our house was washed away, but we just ensured our lives. We don’t have a house anymore, we went to the barangay. I am now 55 years old, and it is only now that I experienced this flood. We sleep in our neighbor’s house on their ground floor, which was flood-stricken; we lay down carton boxes; we cook there. We are thankful to those who give us food and rice. We cook those.)
If given the chance to talk to the president, he said, “Akong gihangyo nga matagaan ko niya og makabalay lang gamay. Makapuyo mi sa among igsuon. Pasalamat ko og naa’y ihatag aron makatukod mi og balay.”
(I ask that he give me something to build for my house, where I can live with my brothers. I am thankful if there is assistance to build my house)
Meanwhile, Carmelita Dianopra, 64, of Purok 6 Barangay Talic, Oroquieta City, shared that their house had been infiltrated with flood water up to neck level since December 26, which forced them to stay for two days in the evacuation center.
“Nalipay mi, pasalamat mi nga giduaw mi sa Oroquieta. Naa gyud mi pag-asa. Siya among gilauman,” she said.
(We are happy that they visited us here in Oroquieta. We have hope. We rely on him.)
Flood-affected families received Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) cash assistance worth P5,000 and food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the visit of the President, the government gave more than P16 million in cash aid, which was given to 3,225 people from the town of Tudela, 1,850 people from the town of Clarin, and 1,203 people from the city of Oroquieta. (JMOR/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
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