By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southern Visayas district, which covers the entire island of Negros and the province of Siquijor, has sent off a total of two truckloads of relief supplies bound for typhoon-affected areas in Luzon.

Captain Eduardo De Luna, PCG-Southern Visayas district commander, said in cooperation with the PCG Auxiliary based in Negros, they thought of the initiative in the aftermath of Typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses.”

“We saw on television what our kababayans really needed, and part of the effort of the PCG district is to give assistance,” De Luna said.

The PCG district commander said they solicited the help of the PCG Auxiliary, private groups and individuals, and they managed to gather up food and water which can help feed over a thousand families for several days.

The supplies were loaded to PCG patrol vessel BRP Batangas which will transport the relief supplies to Metro Manila, and eventually to Cagayan Valley and Bicol regions.

Commander Rhoderick Elioran, commanding officer of the BRP Batangas, said the ship is already carrying at least 20 tons of food stuff which they picked up from Zamboanga City.

Elioran said the ship will leave the Bredco port in Bacolod City on Saturday and they are expected to arrive in Manila by Sunday if the weather permits.

In the meantime, Elioran said the PCG in the city will continue to accept donations until Friday.

Since the vessel’s cargo hold is already close to full, Elioran said they are now looking for items which will encounter no problems if it gets wet like toiletries and cooking utensils.

Donations can be dropped at the PCG-Bredco sub-station located at the Bredco port in Bacolod City./DGB, WDJ