TYPHOON PAENG OPERATION TULONG
Almost the whole Philippine archipelago was devastated by another calamity, Typhoon Paengjust before the month of October ended. SevereTropical storm Paeng wreak havoc in the southernpart of Luzon with strong winds and heavy rains.Almost 3 million people were affected according toNDRRMC. The province of Laguna was not sparedfrom devastation and was hit by Typhoon Paeng on October 29 leaving large portion of theprovince flooded specially the communities alongthe Laguna Lake and other low lying areas.
In the early morning of October 30, right after typhoon Paeng hit Laguna, Doc Milagros O. Borabien, founder of MOB Foundation 2003 Inc., asked for donation for the victims of Typhoon Paeng in San Pedro and nearby municipalities.
As always, members of MOB Foundation immediately responded to the call of Doc Mila for donations in cash and in kind for the victims of typhoon Paeng. After lunch time MOB was able to collect
enough donations for 300 food packs intended for the families in the evacuation centers and in some areas severely affected by the typhoon.
Donations keep coming in not only from MOB membersbut also from other sponsors, SPLMS Community and Starlight PH Foundation to mention some. After all donationswere gathered, packing of the goods started. Doc Mila ledsome MOB member/volunteers in preparing the reliefpacks. The turnout of donations was really overwhelming and to our surprise, we exceeded the target 300 relief packs. No time was wasted, immediately after packing, all the relief packs were loaded in the truck lent by MEDISERVE TRADING to be able to load all the relief packages
Before sun down, relief goods were packed, loaded and the ready for distribution. Doc Mila and Pres. Serge together with the MOB disaster team, travelled to the designated evacuation centers and other affected areas for the MOB TYPHOON PAENG RELIEF OPERATION. First stop was Barangay San Vicente in San Perdo affected by the overflowing of San Pedro River due to heavy rains. About 50 families evacuated in the barangay evacuation center were given relief goods relief goods. Each affected family were given grocery pack with rice. All recipients were very thankful and happy with with the relief packs they received from MOB Group.
After the relief distribution in San Vicente, the team went to Rosario Complex Evacuation Center, one of the main evacuation area in San Pedro, Laguna. In the evacuation center, we personally witnessed the poor and unfortunate situation of the evacuees. Right away, MOB Team started the distribution of the relief packages to the families in theevacuation center. They were all grateful and very thankful with the blessings they received from us.
It is already dark when we reached Caingin Elementary School in Barangay Caingin in Sta. Rosa City. The road we took going to the place of distribution was not that easy. The streets were narrow plus the mud and the garbage washed away by the flood were all over the place. Problems like this was nothing with MOB. What is important is to accomplished our mission, to reach pre-determined calamity areas and be able to give immediate assistance to the families and individuals affected by the typhoon.
The last in our list before we called it off a night was Dalapaz Elementary Schoo in Barangay Delapaz, Binan City. About 80% of Barangay Delapaz was flooded and badly hit by Typhoon Paeng. Nearly 200 families were given food packs. We felt that they are very thankful cause MOB FOUNDATION is one of the first group that visited and extended help to them.
Phase 2
In the first phase of MOB’s relief operation, almost 400 families were served and received grocery packages. But we know that more affected families need help specially those who decidedto stay home and refused to huddle in congested evacuation centers. Hence, the next target of MOB’sdisaster operation was to provide cleaning materials for flood victims but our resources was not enough.But God is really good, He gave us STARLIGHT PH ASSOCIATION to be our partner in this project. With the partnership with Starlight, MOB was able to buy the cleaning materials needed for the second.
When all the cleaning materials were ready, on November 3, a group of MOB disaster team went Personally to the flooded areas from Barangay Cuyab and Barangay San Roque in San Pedro City to distribute stubsto families who decided to stayhome despite the flood and healthhazard associated with flood waters.The team courageously crossedwooden bridges made by the residents.There were also areas that we needed to rode in small boats to reach families in areas were floods are too high.
Early morning the next day at around 7 am, November 4, the MOB disaster team led by Doc Mila and Pres Serge, went to Barangay Cuyab for the distribution of cleaning materials tothose who were given stubs. The team wasted no time and immediately preparedthe sets of cleaning materials for distribution.When everything was ready the materials the team begun the distribution. All recipients werehappy and thankful.
Right after the cleaning materials distribution in Barangay Cuyab, MOB team quickly went to Barangay Barangay San Roque for the relief operation and cleaning materials distribution. Just like in Barangay
Cuyab, the team prepared everything at once. Pres Serge on the other hand rode a banca to reached flooded areas and be able to distribute relief packs to affected families.
The next day November 5, MOB disaster team went to Barangay Delapaz in Binan City to continue the distribution of cleaning materials for victims in flooded areas in the said barangay. With the help of council man Mr. Luisito Seradilla, we were able to determine deserving families who were worthy of our assistance. Everyone was so thankful with the blessings they received.
In the second phase of MOB’s Typhoon Paeng Operation Tulong, we were able to reached and served more than 200 families in flooded areas of Barangay Cuyab and Barangay San Roque in San PedroCity and Barangay Delapaz in Binan City. This is the fruitful result of MOB’s partnership with STARLIGHT PH ASSOCIATION. We were able to somehow alleviate the hardships felt by the victims of Typhoon Paeng and gave them a bit of reason to smile. Hence, It is but right to share with Starlight PH Association the heartwarming appreciation we received from the families we helped. The whole MOB Family is looking forward to a more successful partnership and future collaborations with Starlight PH Association to reach out and help the less fortunate members of the community.