Manila Times, Nov. 29,2004
Typhoon-hit Areas Get Relief
By Armand Galang
DINGALAN, Aurora - The composite team from government agencies continues to conduct a relief and rehabilitation operations in areas damaged by the recent typhoon "Violeta" here, east of Central Luzon, and adjoining towns.
After being slowed down last week by rains and 6- to 8-feet deep floodwaters that affected at least 8,500 families in the towns of Ma. Aurora, Dingalan, San Luis and Baler, all in Aurora province, rehabilitation teams had to use helicopters and large trucks in delivering goods and materials to the victims, The Manila Times was told on Sunday.
The composite team includes the search and rescue team from the National Food Authority, the Office of the Civil Defense, headed by Ester Felipe, and municipal government led by Mayor Jaime Ilarde and the military.
The team, sent through helicopter last week, was divided into two for deployment in barangays Paltic and Dipanikian. One of the teams was assigned on land and the other at the sea where 12 people were earlier recovered.
President Arroyo visited the affected areas on Friday.
As this developed, a team from NFA Nueva Ecija led by Provincial Manager Edelino Alejandro bypassed a broken bridge at Dingalan to deliver 100 sacks of rice to the town government's OCD.
The Directorate for Marketing Operations earlier authorized 500 sacks of rice for relief assistance to the said municipality, the balance of which will be served by the Baler GID warehouse of NFA office in Aurora.
Central Luzon Director Nicolas Crisostomo said the NFA rescue and relief operations is part of the agency's mandate to provide assistance in times of national calamity. He said NFA warehouses in the region have enough supply of rice for the ongoing relief operations.
Enforcement personnel were also deployed in public markets to monitor the prices of rice and other basic goods.
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