CEBU CITY, Cebu, Jan. 11 (PIA) -- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Region7 (RDRRMC-7) together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) launched “Oplan Tabang Isla," a relief mission that aims to provide aid and assistance to geographically isolated and disadvantaged island and islet barangays in the province of Bohol which were greatly affected by Typhoon “Odette” (International name: Rai).

DSWD-7 and the Department of Health 7 are preparing the relief items to be distributed during the conduct of the mission, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) will provide security assistance to ensure the smooth and peaceful distribution of relief goods to the affected residents of these island barangays.

On the other hand, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Airforce (PAF), and Philippine Navy are set to provide transportation and craft the mobilization plan from pick-up to delivery and distribution of relief items. 

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-7) will prepare the list of readily available assets as well as the travel mobilization plan, while the the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) will coordinate with the target local government units (LGUs) for submission of the names of LGU focal persons and locations of delivery points of relief items.

According to DSWD-7, the relief assistance under “Oplan Tabang Isla” includes family food packs, bottled water, and medicine kits

DSWD-7 will also provide financial aid worth P5,000 based on the fund availability in forty islet barangays.

Those who are qualified to receive the said financial assistance are families with partially and totally damaged houses based on the report submitted by the respective LGUs.

During the RDRRMC-7 coordination meeting held Jan. 6, DSWD-7 presented a list of 12 municipalities that they are planning to prioritize during the relief operations, noting that these towns have several island barangays within its jurisdiction that were severely devastated by the recent typhoon.

The department said they will distribute relief assistance to the following island barangays in Bohol: Bien Unido, Getafe, Talibon, Clarin, Inabanga, Panglao, Tubigon, Carlos P. Garcia, Ubay, Buenavista, Calape, and Loon.

A total of 573 rolls of laminated sacks and 4,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) will be delivered to the affected islet barangays in Tubigon and Carlos P. Garcia.

"Oplan Tabang Isla” will also reinforce and support the LGUs in Bohol on its ongoing delivery of disaster-related inventions and distribution of relief assistance to typhoon-affected areas in the province especially its island or islet barangays.

RDRRMC-7 has urged its member government agencies to solicit support from international organizations and donor agencies to strengthen the implementation of “Oplan Tabang Isla." (RGC/PIA7)