South Cotabato sends aid to Typhoon Tino victims

KORONADAL CITY — In response to the severe devastation caused by Typhoon Tino in the Visayas, South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. has ordered the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to deliver immediate relief assistance to the province of Cebu, one of the areas hardest hit by the storm.

The operation, led by PDRRMO Chief Rolly Doane Aquino, involves coordination with concerned national and local agencies to ensure the swift deployment of personnel, supplies, and relief goods to affected communities.

According to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Typhoon Tino has claimed 111 lives, left hundreds injured, and affected more than 700,000 people across Eastern and Central Visayas, including Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour, the typhoon caused widespread flooding, landslides, destruction of homes, and power outages in multiple areas.

Governor Tamayo said the province’s assistance to Cebu reflects South Cotabato’s compassion and solidarity, emphasizing that the people of the province stand ready to help fellow Filipinos in times of crisis.

It can be recalled that South Cotabato was among the first provinces to respond to the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Northern Cebu recently, demonstrating its continued commitment to disaster response and recovery efforts nationwide.

The PDRRMO assured that while the relief team is deployed to Cebu, the province remains adequately prepared to address any potential emergencies within South Cotabato.

This initiative, Governor Tamayo stressed, is part of his administration’s mission to uphold the spirit of bayanihan and deliver “tama kag maayos na serbisyo” — genuine and effective public service — not only for South Cotabateños but for all Filipinos in need. (“right and proper service”)