‘We know that the government struggles in providing immediate response to all communities because of fund limitations and other reasons,’ says an Albay youth group leader
ALBAY, Philippines – Since Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) hit the Bicol Region on Tuesday, October 22, many areas in Albay have yet to receive sufficient government relief, prompting student-led organizations and volunteers to help by going to far-flung communities to deliver food, water, medicines, and dry clothes to the victims.
Christopher Nocos, chairperson of the Youth Ambassadors of Albay Province (YAAP), said his group raised funds from sponsors to provide relief goods for residents of Bulusan, Libon town in Albay, a community heavily affected by flash floods.
“It is very important that the youth initiate relief operations because we know that the government struggles in providing immediate response to all communities because of fund limitations and other reasons,” Nocos said.
YAAP consists of 100 youth leaders from across Albay working together to implement initiatives promoting sustainable development in their communities. They plan to extend relief programs to more towns.
“For the past few days, we have seen how they love to serve and help,” Nocos said.
Aside from distributing food supplies, the group also conducted a medical mission with four volunteer physicians and several student nurses. Residents were able to consult medical practitioners and receive basic medicines.
Other active groups in the province, such as the Red Cross Albay (RCA), provided volunteers and medical supplies for the mission. The Philippine Junior Jaycees-Legazpi and the Junior Chamber International-Legazpi also participated in the initiative.
Dan Lester Llorente, an RCA volunteer, reported that many flood victims have open wounds, which is particularly concerning due to the high floodwaters in the area. This increases the risk of leptospirosis and other complications.
“They urgently need medicines, such as doxycycline, as well as wound-cleaning supplies to prevent infection,” Llorente said.
Meanwhile, volunteers from student-led organizations at Bicol University carried out relief activities in Oas and Polangui, Albay. Both towns, along with Libon, were severely affected by the flooding caused by Kristine.
According to Oas residents, the student volunteers were the first to deliver aid to their area.
“Access to safe drinking water is our top priority, as most flooded communities lack this basic necessity,” Oas Vice Mayor Hector Loyola said.
Medical volunteers assessed the residents’ needs and requested additional supplies to continue their relief and medical missions. The most needed items are as follows:
- drinking water and food
- basic medicines (cetirizine, paracetamol, doxycycline)
- alcohol
- vitamins (especially for children)
- first aid kits
- slippers and underwear for both children and adults
Beyond donation drives
Many youth-led organizations have organized donation drives for the victims, particularly in Bicol. While these efforts demonstrate the youth’s active participation in disaster response, many volunteers have called on authorities to improve calamity mitigation and disaster response efforts.
According to Christine Larce, head of the One Share, One Care organization and an active youth volunteer for various Bicol University relief operations, while youth initiatives are commendable, relying solely on donation drives is a temporary solution. She said the real issue lies in the government’s disaster mitigation budget.
“Despite the positive impact of initiating donation drives, let us not lose sight of the fact that disaster response initiatives and the implementation of better disaster mitigation and flood control projects are primarily the government’s responsibility. If we continually rely on the goodwill of benefactors, relief operations and initiatives will remain as temporary, band-aid solutions during times of calamity,” Larce pointed out.
In 2023 and 2024, the Bicol Region received a P61.42-billion budget for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). However, despite completion reports, the region was among the most severely affected by the flooding caused by Kristine.
Larce said that aside from volunteering, citizens need to hold the government accountable for flood control efforts that could have mitigated the storm’s impact. – Rappler.com
Reinnard Balonzo is a senior journalism student at Bicol University-College of Arts and Letters. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024, he is also chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Bicol.
