Filipinos immediately responded, made rescue operations and brought relief goods two days after the devastating Super Typhoon Odette lashed on December 16, 2021 in Southern Leyte and other regions of the Visayas and Mindanao. Clearing operations were made to ensure that the roads are passable. As such the electric cooperatives from different parts the region were able to repair the main electric posts.
Various organizations and individuals gave out food, water, materials for building houses, cash and technical assistance.
Day after the devastation, President Rodrigo Duterte visited Southern Leyte. On December 18, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. came and turned over Php 2.5 million worth of food relief and Php 2 million cash assistance. Maria Leonora “Leni” Robredo and the Ormoc Leni-Kiko supporters came with some relief goods.
Senatorial aspirant Win Gatchalian accompanied by his girlfriend actress Bianca Manalo reportedly gave Php 4 million cash assistance. While, Senator Risa Hontiveros provided a Mobile Health Clinic to give Southern Leyteños free medical consultation including ECG, ultrasound for pregnant woman, X-Ray, and laboratory test.
Regional officials also extended help, like Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez who donated fifty sacks of rice, hygiene kits, shelter kits through the Ormoc City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office CDRRMO, and the Department of Works and Highways Leyte District with trucks and skilled workers who helped on the clearing operation. Eastern Visayas State University, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club also gave some relief goods. The Department of Social Welfare Region 8 likewise distributed food packs in different towns of the province.
Quezon City local government unit through Mayor Joy Belmonte gave Php10 million assistance to the municipalities of Anahawan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Juan, San Ricardo, Tomas Oppus and Limasawa.
Biliran Philippine Police, Ako Bicol Party-list and Landbank also donated some goods. The Philippine Army Storm Troopers, Eastern Visayas 802nd 14 Infantry Battalion, EV Police stations also gave relief goods and helped in the clearing operations as well.
The Philippine Red Cross Southern Leyte Chapter served 1, 195 individuals with packed hot meals in Liloan Central School and Port of Liloan, Liloan and San Francisco. Other emergency services were likewise rendered like clearing operation, rice distribution, and hygiene promotion. (R. Cabodbod)
