BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 17 (PIA) -- Almost 300 residents of Barangay Capiñahan here who have no access to water since typhoon Odette battered Negros Oriental last month received water and other relief items from Metro Dumaguete Water (MDW), Dumaguete Press Club Inc. (DPCI), and their partner Maayo Shipping Inc.

The three agencies conducted an outreach and relief operation in the said barangay on Jan. 12 to provide aid to typhoon victims in Bais City.

MDW brought one water tanker carrying 15,000 liters of water distributed to the residents of the said barangay.

Meanwhile, the DPCI assisted in the distribution of relief packs to typhoon Odette survivors during the activity.

DPCI also brought boxes of canned goods and bottles of mineral water which were given to the affected residents.

Recipients of the relief assistance thanked the agencies for extending help to their community.

“Lisod kaayo ang tubig. Lipay kay ko nga naa jud tubig. Taud-taud na jud mi ga-antos. Gikan pa nang bagyo.  Daghan mi didtos bungtod mao lisod if wala mi tubig. Bahalay walay suga basta ang tubig sigurado (Our access to water supply is difficult. Our situation has been like this since the typhoon. We live in the uplands and it's hard there if there’s no water. We can live without electricity as long as there is water),” said Mirasol Bandoles, a resident of Brgy. Capiñahan and a beneficiary of the outreach activity.

Bandoles was able to fill 25 gallons of water that day good for their three-day consumption.

She shared that she and some members of her family had to travel at least a kilometer from their home located in the upper area of the village to the adjacent barangay to fetch water from a “flowing source” which they would bring back to their home.

“Nagpasalamat mi ug dako nga gihatdan mi ug tubig dinhi sa Capiñahan kay lisod jud kaayo ang tubig dire. Wala mi mainom. Mahal biya kaayo if mopalit mi ug mineral water mga P40 kanang uban P45 (We are thankful that water has been brought to us here in Capiñahan. Our access to water is currently limited and we don’t have potable water. It’s expensive for us if we will buy mineral water which costs P40 to P45 as of the moment),” said Alma Rivera, another resident of the said barangay.

MDW, DPCI, and Maayo Shipping coordinated with the City Government of Bais, which identified Brgy. Capiñahan as the beneficiary of the said activity.

Bais City Mayor Mercedes Goñi also thanked the agencies for extending relief to her constituents.

“God is good. After the typhoon, people have willingly offered support non-stop even without us asking,” Teves said.

She also encouraged agencies, organizations, or individuals who are willing to donate in Bais City to coordinate with the city government or with the city command center so they can be properly assisted and they can be endorsed to barangays that are in need.

MDW supplied residents with potable water to address their need for drinking water.

MDW Chief Operating Officer David Berba said they also extended the same service in the towns of Bindoy and Manjuyod through the help of their partners like Maayo Shipping Inc. who lent their water tankers for free.

The two towns were also badly hit by typhoon Odette.

To date, the MDW has provided more than 300,000 liters of water in different communities in Bais City, Manjuyod, and Bindoy.

“For as long as available po yung mga tanker at mayroon po kami containers na ipapadala dito and for as long as affected ang neighboring municipalities ng typhoon Odette, we are here to help,” Berba said.

DPCI President Juancho Gallarde said this activity is also a way for DPCI to serve communities affected by the typhoon.

“Kita wala sad ta nagpanukop sa Dumaguete Press Club. Naa tay gamay pondo ato pod gidugang sa ilang pondo mao nahitabo (We also gave our share in the Dumaguete Press Club. We have used some of our funding which were added to their existing resources),” Gallardo said.

MDW also brought 150 pieces of carboys filled with water and endorsed them to the local government unit for the far-flung areas that are also in need of water. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)