Masbate residents rebuild homes, mourn loved ones after Opong onslaught

Residents in Masbate have begun to rebuild their homes, while others continue to mourn their loved ones days after the province was battered by Typhoon Opong.

According to JP Soriano’s Tuesday report on “24 Oras,” some government agencies and non-profit organizations are working to help the affected residents.

The Red Cross, for example, has provided a water treatment facility to distribute clean water to communities.

Rolando, whose house was damaged by a fallen tree, has began reconstructing their home despite signing up for the government’s construction assistance that might take some time to reach him.

He said he could not wait for the aid and decided to take a loan to buy construction materials.

Meanwhile, partners Fe Sual and Benjie Manlapas lost more than their home as their two young girls were among the 19 fatalities in the island province.

Their two-year-old and one-and-a-half-year-old daughters died after they were struck when a tree fell on their house.

Fe, who is six months pregnant, was in tears as she said the events were unexpected, that she desperately tried to save their children who were pinned underneath the tree and debris.

Flanked by two small plywood coffins, the couple remembers their late children as kind, loving and enjoyed the simple things.

Most of the fatalities were killed by falling trees.

Over 56,000 houses were damaged, of which are 12,000 were practically destroyed.

At the height of the storm, a man residents call “tatay” (father) rescued several people and gave them shelter inside a concrete house.

Tatay Roque Tillor is a caretaker of the said house. He said he asked permission from the owner before bringing their neighbors inside the house.

Many neighbors said they owe their lives to a man whose slight build did not prevent him from helping others in danger.

For his part, Roque expressed gratitude to God as his neighbors were kept safe amid the harsh weather.

As Masbatenos continue to endure the power outage, rechargeable lamps and solar-powered ventilators are in demand.

A number of high-ranking government officials are set to arrive in Masbate to check on the situation in the province, as restoration efforts to the power supply continue. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News