MANILA-As promised, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada returned to the earthquake-hit province of Bohol last Sunday to deliver additional aid and food supplies to the victims.
It can be remembered that Sen. Estrada visited Bohol, specifically the municipalities of Sagbayan and Calape last October 20 and pledged to bring more relief to the residents.
This time, Sen. Estrada visited the coastal town of Maribojoc, one of the worst hit areas by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake which placed the entire province in a state of calamity. Sen. Estrada was welcomed by Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr. and Vice Mayor Fructuoso Redulla, Jr., and was accompanied by Cong. Erico Aumentado.
Vice Mayor Redulla says that Sen. Estrada is the first national government official to visit and set foot on their town since the earthquake happened last October 15.
A five-member team composed of doctors, a nurse and medical technologists from the Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA which is conducting stress debriefing sessions for the affected families says that seeing national officials on site is a positive development for the morale and overall mental health of the victims.
Dr. Mon Martin, a member of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team that is providing psychological intervention to those who experienced the tragedy and to those who lost relatives, properties and livelihood, says that the said visit by Estrada uplifts their spirits, signals to the victims that help and assistance are on the way and this gives them hope.
Sen. Estrada spent an afternoon in Maribojoc and visited a total of seven barangays, namely Barangays Dipatlong, Poblacion, Anislag, San Vicente, Lincod, San Roque, and Bayacabac.
According to the local disaster relief operations, 20,588 individuals from 4,526 families and 22 barangays were affected by the earthquake. Disaster operations report also show that 1,917 houses were totally damaged, while 1,850 houses were partially damaged. The municipality also recorded 17 casualties and 340 injured.
Apart from sacks of rice, canned goods and drinking water, Sen. Estrada also brought boxes of vitamins, antibiotics, and other essential medicine.
Before proceeding to Maribojoc, Sen. Estrada paid a courtesy call to the provincial capitol and handed over a two-million peso check from the City of Manila to Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto.
The City of Manila led by former President and Mayor Joseph Estrada was represented by his son, Jinggoy, and City Administrator Simeon Garcia, Jr.
Administrator Garcia says the financial donation was their way of helping the Boholanos and the local government in its relief operations and immediate rehabilitation.
