PNoy’s visit to Southern Leyte charms calamity-stricken residents of Saint Bernard town

By R. G. CADAVOS, PIA Southern Leyte
January 14, 2011

SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte  –  Landed at the grounds of Barangay Malibago, January 14 in the town of Saint Bernard, President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his reactions on how to assist the people in the calamity-prone area of Saint Bernard.

Boarded on a Presidential chopper that arrived almost 10 in the morning here, the awaiting residents were seen excited and happy as they saw the President stepped down for the first time in their town to assess the landslide and flooding incidents that took away three minors and evacuated 1,280 families or 5,051 individuals, as of press time.

The President in his visit here wanted to know what should be done, because the town lies in mountain ranges – “if an evacuation is needed, we should identify where these people would be transferred, for a long term solution to the repeated problem of this town,” the President said.

He pledged to continue assisting the victims of the tragedy specially those who have no other means of income but farmlands.  He brought along Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala to distribute 100 bags of certified rice seeds and at least 500 bags of vegetable seeds to help the farmers rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, the President conducted a ceremonial distribution of at least 10 family packs to ten beneficiaries.  There were 300 family packs prepared to be distributed to the residents managed by Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman who was also with the entourage of the president during the short visit here.

Other assistance brought by President Aquino were assorted drugs and medicines through Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona and some 196 PhilHealth cards.