Continuous Assistance Arrival Raises Hope

by TERENCE TORIANO

Help continues to pour in with national and foreign aids coming in to the Province of Aklan particularly in the Municipality of Kalibo, one of the hardest hit areas of the Super Typhoon Frank.
Foreign aids through religious, civic and government agencies continue to pour in to assist families affected by the flash flood but more help is needed according to Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo who cited out that the usual means of communication like the landline-based telephones are inoperable even the radio stations relying on what cellular phones that survived the flood for text messaging and e-mails to send out information or news.
Flood waters as high as five feet in most areas and twice the average Filipino height in low-lying areas have produced destructive outcome that has never been heard off by the people of Kalibo.
One elderly resident stated her obvious relief saying, “It would have been worse if it happened at night because people would be unaware and they would have panicked and more would have died.”
Of the five reported deaths in Kalibo, one is an elderly resident who possibly died due to exposure and extreme cold or hypothermia.
The aftermath have been heartbreaking for most as they find their belongings unusable including their appliances. Unfortunate families who lost their homes found themselves wondering into evacuation centers or living with their relatives.
All the usual evacuation centers like the ABL Sports Complex suffered heavy roof damages while public schools are affected by flash flood making the Diocese of Kalibo through Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo instrumental in opening the doors of St. John the Baptist Cathedral and the Aklan Catholic College to affected families.
Amazing still is the generosity of home owners with houses not affected by flood who opened their doors for their neighbors.
As Kalibo reels at the recent disaster, Mayor Rebaldo hopes that the national government will not only support and aid the capital town of Kalibo of more relief operation but also for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of a town that is known as the origin of the Ati-Atihan Festival. /MP