MAASIN City, Southern Leyte—THE BBM-Sara UniTeam on Sunday visited several provinces hit by Super Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) and turned over to local officials their assistance for displaced residents.
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez met with Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado at the provincial capitol here and handed over P2 million financial assistance and P2.5 million worth of relief goods from UniTeam in a simple ceremony.
Maasin City Mayor Nikko Mercado and his father, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Roger Mercado, witnessed the event.
They thanked UniTeam, its allies and friends led by Tingog Partylist, for bringing assistance to their constituents.
Romualdez said the BBM-Sara UniTeam and their allies responded quickly to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette, which ripped through the Philippines.
“We would like to assure our kababayan that help is available. We will work tirelessly until we ensure that all those who need assistance would be given the same,” Romualdez said.
“We have survived worse typhoons, including Super Typhoon Yolanda before and we are currently enduring the pandemic so I am confident that if we continue to work hand in hand, we will get through this challenge,” he added.
At around 11 a.m. in Agusan del Norte, their second stop on a four-province swing in Visayas and Mindanao, Marcos and Romualdez turned over to Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada and Vice Mayor Jose “Joboy” Aquino II P2-million financial assistance and P5 million in relief goods from UniTeam.
The UniTeam was set to visit Bohol and Cebu provinces on Sunday afternoon to also provide aid to typhoon victims.
Relief operations of the UniTeam continue, meanwhile, in typhoon-affected areas in Butuan, Bohol, Cebu and Masbate.
Marcos earlier thanked supporters and volunteers who responded to his call on Wednesday, a day before Typhoon Odette entered the Philippine area of responsibility, to repack relief goods in anticipation of a massive relief effort.
Minutes after his call, donors and volunteers trooped to the BBM-Sara warehouse in Taguig City, bringing with them sacks of rice, tons of canned goods, and other essentials.
Marcos earlier also appealed to electric cooperatives in Luzon and Mindanao that were not affected by the typhoon to send linemen and materials to areas were electric power has not yet been restored “so we can all have a bright Christmas.”