The Philippine Red Cross teams have gained citation from the local government of Nueva Ecija under Gov. Aurelio Umali for being among the first responders to come to the aid of the people of Nueva Ecija and other parts of Luzon hit hard by Typhoon ‘‘Lando’’ last week.
The governor thanked the Red Cross teams for risking life and limb at the height of Lando to rescue and evacuate people in the province facing imminent death due to the hurricane-strong winds and raging flood waters that isolated whole barangays and swept away roads and bridges, and houses and buildings.
In particular, Umali cited a PRC rescue team who traversed across raging flood waters to reach a trapped van with seven passengers in Barangay San Isidro, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija in the early morning of Oct. 18. At the height of the strong current and gusting winds, the PRC team secured a line to their 6×6 truck and plucked five passengers to safety. Unfortunately, the PRC team failed to rescue two other persons before the trapped van was swept away by the floods.
“We want to cite Francis Hidalgo, Rommel Barroga, Ronald Perez, Harold Obaña, John Cacho, Christian Jeoffrey Mariano, Paul Rei Guiang, and Abner Yangwas for their courage and bravery in that particular incident. We also acknowledge the many Red Cross teams who were among the first responders during Lando and who did many other deeds of courage and sacrifice at the height of the storm. Because of their efforts, many lives in Nueva Ecija were saved.”
Umali said he called to thank PRC Chair Richard Gordon, who pledged to continue Red Cross relief efforts in Nueva Ecija and other parts of Luzon devastated by Lando.
Gordon said as of this weekend, PRC had deployed 79 volunteers and regular personnel for rescue, relief and and rehabilitation work in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Bulacan, Aurora, Zambales, and Pangasinan.
The PRC rescued 728 persons trapped by floods in their homes and barangays, while 10,793 were fed with hot meals. Another 10,091 received medical treatment and counselling, while PRC medical teams are still on site aiding evacuees and residents who lost their homes and livelihoods during the storm.
“We’ve shifted efforts to relief and helping curtail the spread of waterborne diseases in areas that remained flood-stricken days after the storm’s passing. I wish to thank the Red Cross volunteers and personnel who until now are working hard for the Lando victims. And we call on the public to continue giving aid so we can help the victims back on their feet.”