DSWD aids victims leaving Tacloban

Cebu City—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII continues to assist victims of typhoon “Yolanda” who are moving out from the typhoon-ravaged Tacloban City.

Personnel from the Department are deployed at the Mactan Air Base to meet these people who arrived in the city via C130.

“Tiniis naming maglakad mula 10:00 [ng gabi] hanggang 3:30 [ng umaga] para makaabot sa airport… naka-wheelchair pa ang tatay ko [We walked from 10:00 pm until 3:30 am just to reach the airport… And my father is wheelchair-bound],” said Kevin Talbo, 24, from San Jose, Tacloban City.

“My grandson David let me stand on his lap and held me above water for hours and when the weather calmed down, he placed me safely on tree branch, left me with a shirt and told me not to move. I was so cold but I have to survive for my children and grandchildren,” said 84-year old Pilar Ferreras.

As soon as these evacuees arrive at the airport, DSWD personnel interview them to assess their needs and to provide initial debriefing. They were also given hot meals and provided a warm place to sleep in. Medical help was also arranged for the elderly and wounded.

Violeta Tangson recalled her ordeal.

“Nagtago kami ng mga anak ko sa ilalim ng lababo kasama ang 15 pang mga bata. Nawalis ang dingding at nawala ang mga bata sa paligid. Kami nalang ng asawa at mga anak ko [ang natira] [My children and I hid under the sink with 15 other kids. The walls started to crumble and the children got washed away. The only ones who survived are I, my husband and our children].”

A mother of three, Violeta started to worry for her family more when dead bodies started to smell. That is when she decided to take the four-hour walk from the town of Palo to Tacloban airport dragging her injured foot.

“Makalabas lang kami ng Leyte, may mga kamag-anak ako sa Cavite na tutulong sa amin. Mabubuhay ang mga anak ko [If we can just get out of Leyte, I have relatives in Cavite who will help us. My children will live],” she shared.

Violeta’s husband chose to stay behind to take care of his aging mother, and this saddens her, but knowing that her children are already safe is enough reason to look forward to a new life in a different town.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman has instructed DSWD Field Offices V, VII, X and CARAGA to reinforce relief operations in Eastern Visayas.

These field offices are now repacking relief items. They have also deployed personnel to help in relief distribution and to conduct initial critical incident stress debriefing (CISD).

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

2020 Laoag City Traffic Code

Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte CITY OF LAOAG SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 58 TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE 11 TH SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF LAOAG HELD AT THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL, LAOAG CITY ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. PRESENT: 1. Hon. Vicentito M. Lazo City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Juan Conrado A. Respicio II S.P....

Marcos town celebrates 3rd Pinakbet Festival

MARCOS, Ilocos Norte—Taking pride of this town ’s favorite Ilo cano dish, locally known as pinakbet, a mix of indigenous vegetables steamed in fish sauce, residents here ushered the opening of the third Pinakbet festival. “Pinakbet” came from the contracted Ilokano word ‘pinakebbet ’ which means “ shrunk ” or “shriveled.” As a way of thanksgiving, the Pinakbet festival is a repository of the town ’ s “ani” [harvest] festival being celebrated every month of March but this was later moved to December to accommodate more balikbayans wanting to join the festivity. Residents in this agricultural town derived most of their income from the harvest of high value crops, including rice, tobacco and corn as staple crops. This year, the week-long festivity highlighted a grand parade around the town plaza and a pinakbet cook fest at the municipal gymnasium to showcase the best pinakbet in town. A boodle fight followed suit. Earlier, a fun run was participated by various groups ...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog