CAGAYAN SITUATION

Elderly flood victims look up to sky, others endure long lines for aid

Elderly people in flooded parts of Tuguegarao City were forced to endure long lines just to get relief goods - some of which had to be airdropped - from the government following Typhoon Ulysses' onslaught.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report on “24 Oras,” 63-year-old Nenita Abana of Sitio Askag, Linao East — one of the areas heavily-hit by the typhoon — ended up with wounds and bruises on her feet trying to reach the area where the relief goods were being airdropped by the military.

“Wala kaming makain kasi walang makarating sa amin. Pumunta pa kami doon kasi wala kaming talagang makain,” Abana said.

“Tignan mo ‘yung paa ko, punta pa ako doon para makakuha ako ng ayuda… Pumunta kami doon para makakuha kami ng pagkain, hindi nila kami bigyan,” she added.

Other elderly people were also seen running toward the helicopter to get their share of the relief goods.

Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano said the area was hard to reach.

“Kasi wala naman talagang daan papunta doon sa unang pinuntahan natin. ‘Yun ang pinaka mahirap na barangay, ‘yung pinuntahan natin. ‘Yun din ang pinakamahirap na sitio,” Soriano said.

Rosita Beran, 87, was among those who fell in line to get relief goods.

"Kapag marami ang tao, masaya ako. Kung ako lang, mahina na ako... Mahina naman ako, wala akong makahanap," said the octogenarian.

The Philippine National Police Region 2 has already committed to provide medical assistance to Abana and other flood victims needing medical attention. -Joahna Lei Casilao/MDM, GMA News