OVP extends aid to flood victims

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) began distributing relief items Wednesday to families affected by typhoon “Crising” and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.

Through its Disaster Operations Center (DOC), the OVP has allocated aid for approximately 5,900 families in various affected areas across the country.

So far, the OVP-DOC has distributed about 2,900 relief boxes to residents in Western Visayas and Northern Luzon. An additional 3,000 boxes are scheduled for delivery in Pangasinan starting Thursday.

Each relief box contains food packs, hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, slippers, expandable water jugs and other essential supplies.

OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo disclosed in an interview at the OVP-DOC office in Quezon City that they are now loading relief boxes to “distribute to our countrymen who are truly in need.”

The OVP-DOC will also provide relief boxes to families in Metro Manila severely impacted by flooding from the heavy monsoon rains.

“Of course, we’ll prioritize those closest here in Metro Manila where our location is in the middle of Quezon City. So many around here need help, and we will certainly reach as far as Pangasinan to send aid,” the spokesperson added.

The OVP’s relief effort is intended as an augmentation to existing aid, particularly in areas not fully reached by other relief operations.

“What the OVP is doing now is only for augmentation, meaning we are just adding to what various agencies are doing because we cannot say that all their help reaches everyone,” Castelo said.

In addition to relief boxes, the OVP-DOC has deployed kalusugan food trucks” to serve hot meals to first responders.

“It is also important for us to address the needs of first responders. This is where our kalusugan food trucks go, so we can at least provide them with relief through the hot meals given by the Office of the Vice President,” the spokesperson said.

The OVP has also extended its libreng sakay operations until 10 p.m.

“Our free rides are continuously running because we know the current needs,” Castelo said. “This is also additional help because we know many were stranded in various places, so our free rides will continue to operate until early morning.”

The routes for the OVP Libreng Sakay buses in Metro Manila include two buses on the EDSA Carousel (Monumento-PITX route), two buses on the Quiapo-Commonwealth route, and one bus on the PITX-Naic, Cavite route.