BANGUED, Abra (PIA) - -  The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) turned-over relief goods to the Diocese of Bangued for families affected by the Magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the province of Abra and northwestern Luzon.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Region I Director Mildred Abordo turned over to the Diocese of Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian, SVD, DD, some 400 packs of goods which contain food items, tolda, blankets, hygiene items, water, and rice.

The goods were   immediately given to families who were not able to receive any assistance.

Abordo said NICA officials led by Director General Ricardo de Leon and employees nationwide pooled resources out of their pockets and came up with some amount to purchase the items.

The spirit of Bayanihan or the sense of volunteerism in sharing the personal resources is very much alive   in NICA family nationwide, she said.

“Basta’t sama sama tayo sa pagtulong and if we care for each other magagawan natin ng paraan lahat para po sana maitawid natin sana lahat kung ano pong suliranin o ano mang mga challenges na ating harapin. Handa po kaming tumulong,” Abordo said,

The said relief operation was in coordination with the 24th Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army led by LtCol Ricardo Garcia III and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Intelligence Office 1 and RIO CAR.  

 Bishop Jaucian expressed his gratitude to the NICA family for their sense of volunteerism and their donations.  

 “Naramdaman po namin ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa tulong ninyo. Malaking malaking salamat sa tulong ninyo lalong lalo na sa mga hindi nakatanggap at sila ho yung pinagbigyan ng tulong ng NICA. At sana po sa pagtulong ng NICA maramdaman na lahat pala ay nakahandang magbigay tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” added Bishop Jaucian.

 He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to  all volunteers for extending help to those affected.

 The Bishop’s House is the Center of Operations of the Diocese and Caritas Philippines. Surplus donations will  be decentralized   to the different  parishes for proper identification of those in need on the ground.(JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Abra)