Authorities reach Guiuan, Eastern Samar for the first time after Yolanda wrath

Isolated for three days since super typhoon Yolanda made its first landfall on November 8, Guiuan town in Eastern Samar was finally reached by government authorities last Monday, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said.

In a phone-patch interview Tuesday on GMA News TV's News To Go, Almendras said Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin were in the typhoon-hit area to see for themselves the extent of the damage in the area.
 

"Ang magandang balita ngayon, mayroon tayong C130 flight na galing sa Manila na maglalanding doon sa runway, sa airport mismo ng Guiuan. Mayroon kasing runway," Almendras said.

Though the number of casualties in the area have yet to be determined, Almendras said they are expecting it be lower compared to Tacloban City, which bore the brunt of Yolanda's wrath.

 

"I don’t have the numbers. [The] NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) will announce it as soon as we can. It may not be that bad, 'di kagaya ng unang report sa Tacloban," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Almendras said helicopters will be dispatched from Tacloban to bring in relief goods to other isolated areas.

 

"Mayroong choppers na na-dispatch from Tacloban today that will be dropping sa mga pinaka-remote areas na hindi talaga maabot po," he said. "I just talked to Sec. Dinky this morning, we will bring rice supplies into Palo, and the local government will distribute it to the rest of Southern Leyte."

 

Figures from the NDRRMC showed the number of dead stood at 1,774, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported on Monday.

 

Of these, 1,660 were from Region 8, the report said.

 

Region 8, which includes Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, Ormoc City, Baybay City, Maasin City, Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Borongan City, and Tacloban City, bore the brunt of Yolanda's strong winds and storm surges. — with Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News