Residents of Siargao coastal town appeal for help amid wrecked homes

Residents of a coastal town in Siargao are appealing for help amid the devastation of their homes, more than a week after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras" on Sunday, Odette's wrath left a trail of destroyed homes in the municipality of Pilar.

Displaced residents celebrated Christmas with no clean water, food, and shelter.

"Sana bigyan kami ng mga plywood kahit 'yon man lang. Basta mabalik lang 'yong bahay namin," Sandy Golgat said.

(I hope they can give us some plywood at least. Just so we can build our homes back up.)

"Hindi namin alam kung Pasko ba talaga o ano. Sana po, nananawagan ako na tulungan niyo kami para sa mga kababayan ko," an emotional Tereso Ravelo added.

(We don't know if it really is Christmas. We are pleading for help.) 

The Surigao provincial government said the national government already promised an initial aid of P35 million for the affected families.

"Ang problem ko 'yong affected families ay more than 40,000 so the P35 million na papadala niya, that's only enough for 7,000. Sino ang bigyan ko doon, sino hindi?" Governor Francis Matugas said.

(Our problem is that there are more than 40,000 affected families. The P35 million the national government will send will only be enough for 7,000 families. Who will get money, and who won't?) — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News