News Release

Int’l humanitarian organizations tender support to Sorsoganons

By: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, January 26 – Amidst the test of patience and faith due to loss of livelihoods, angels are born to give hope so that one can start anew.

Just recently, two international humanitarian organizations visited Sorsogon to conduct assessment of the extent of damages brought by various calamities that hit the province, and identify what assistance can be extended to heavily affected areas.

These organizations were the Action Against Hunger (globally known as Action Contre la Faim or ACF International) – Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (ACF-AECID), an organization that develops a comprehensive strategy to put an end to hunger in countries directly affected by war and calamities; and the World Food Programme (WFP), the food aide branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization also addressing hunger worldwide.

Jose Lopez, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (PDRMO) said that representatives of ACF-AECID visited Juban town specifically Barangay Binanuahan to personally see the affected community and find out what assistance can be offered to them by their organization.

Binanuahan is the hardly flooded barangay in the province which records thousands of evacuees every time torrential rains occur.

Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPDMO) Executive Director Sally A. Lee in an interview with the “Sa Kapitolyo Week-end Report” radio program on Saturday said that the World Food Programme has immediately coordinated with her following the requested assistance from them by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Lee said that the WFP’s program is currently focused on the condition of lives and livelihood of families affected not only by the recent flooding but also by the restiveness of Mt. Bulusan.

“They said they are more than willing to give help particularly food assistance to affected residents especially in Juban and Magallanes towns as recommended by the  DSWD,” she added.

Juban was declared under the state of calamity on January 10, this year, as it was at all times affected by lahar flows since Mt. Bulusan’s activities since November last year and was likewise heavily flooded due to torrential rains the past weeks.

Magallanes town, on the other hand, was identified because of its high vulnerability to landslides.

Both organizations assured affected LGUs that they will provide assistance to the flooded residents based from the result of their assessment. (PIA Sorsogon)