Amid the onslaught of Typhoon Carina, Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee opened the headquarters of AGRI Party-list on Wednesday to provide shelter, food and medicines for stranded families.
As of writing, the headquarters situated at Araneta Avenue corner Quezon Avenue, is currently housing more than 170 families who were displaced due to heavy floods sweeping their areas.
Aside from the temporary shelter, Lee’s team also distributed food and medicines to residents of Barangays Little Baguio and Salapan in San Juan City and families and volunteers in evacuation centers in Manila and Quezon City.
Families who stayed in the headquarters expressed gratitude to have a temporary shelter.
“Nakakatuwa na may mga ganito. Kung tutuusin, pwede kaming nasa kalye lang ngayon. Yung Ondoy kasi, nakakatakot talaga yun. Kaya alam ko na ‘pag ganun na kalakas, lumilikas na ko,” Jovie from Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City said.
Meanwhile, Hannah, also from Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, who stayed in the AGRI headquarters with her husband and 7-year-old son with asthma, said: “Naghahanap po talaga ako ng may kuryente kasi hinihika ang anak ko. Meron pa po naiwan sa’min pero madilim na kaya nag-stay po kami dito.”
Regine from Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Quezon City shared that she and her family were forced to leave their residence because the flood already reached the second floor of their house, and all of them, including her father-in-law who had a stroke, needed to stay on the roof.
“Kalahati kami [sa pamilya namin] dito [AGRI HQ], kalahati nasa bahay. Naiwan dun yung asawa ko saka mga kapatid nya. [Nandito] mga anak ko saka maliliit na bata na kasama namin sa bahay, kasi yung biyenan ko hindi na maitawid [sa baha]… kasi parang dalawang patong ng tao ang taas,” she said.
Earlier, Lee coordinated with the Primark Centers and Town Centers which also opened their doors to those who needed a place to stay, park their vehicles, and charge their gadgets. (Locations of Primark Centers can be accessed here: https://www.primark.com.ph/location.
“Kapag tuloy-tuloy ang ating bayanihan at malasakit sa isa’t isa, Winner Tayo Lahat. Whole-of-nation approach dapat ang gawin natin para mabilis ang responde, mas malawak at mas mabilis ang nararating ng serbisyo, lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna at delubyo.”
Lee then renewed his call for the passage of House Bill No. 1298 or the “Essential Crop Insurance Act”, which seeks to make insurance for essential crops mandatory. This measure aims to compensate the loss in livelihood and give financial assistance to farmers affected by disasters, on top of the assistance provided by local government units (LGUs), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
A staunch health advocate, Lee also warned the public of diseases that floods bring.
“Mag-ingat din po tayo sa paglusong sa baha, na pwede panggalingan ng mga sakit tulad ng typhoid fever, cholera, at leptospirosis. Sa mga nangangailangan po ng medical assistance, mag-message lang po sa aming Facebook messenger (https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanWilbertLee),” Lee said.
The lawmaker from Bicol urged LGUs to ramp up efficient flood and drainage projects and speed up their efforts in reaching out to areas which urgently need help.
“Seryosohin dapat natin ang mga proyektong tutugon sa malawakang pagbaha. May pondo ang gobyerno para dito, gamitin dapat ito para sa epektibong flood control. Kung iilan lang ang makikinabang sa budget para dito, talagang babaha ng perwisyo sa taumbayan,” he remarked.
Lee also thanked all the rescuers, volunteers and the media for their constant and steadfast service amid the typhoon.
“Maraming salamat sa ating mga kawani ng gobyerno at volunteers na nag-rescue sa mga kababayan nating stranded at kinailangang lumikas, nag-aasikaso sa evacuation centers, pati na sa media, na sa kabila ng panganib na dala ng malakas na ulan at baha sa mga lansangan, patuloy ang serbisyo sa taumbayan,” he said.
The solon further underscored the importance of cooperation between public and private sectors to improve the country’s disaster risk reduction and management and boost relief efforts in times of calamities.
“Filipinos deserve better so we should demand better. Hindi na bago sa atin ang bagyo kaya by now, hindi na katanggap-tanggap ang mabagal na pag-aksyon at paulit-ulit na problemang dulot ng mga kalamidad,” he stressed.
“Kapag tuloy-tuloy ang ating bayanihan at malasakit sa isa’t isa, Winner Tayo Lahat. Whole-of-nation approach dapat ang gawin natin para mabilis ang responde, mas malawak at mas mabilis ang nararating ng serbisyo, lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna at delubyo,” he added.
Due to Typhoon Carina, Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity on July 24.
