Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero announced that the provincial government will be sending calamity assistance to the provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao pummeled by Super Typhoon Odette.
In a statement, the former senator said Friday night that help from Sorsogon, which was also affected by the latest typhoon to hit the country, will be distributed for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of affected local government units (LGUs).
“Earnestly praying for the people affected by ‘Odette,’” Escudero said.
“On behalf of all Sorsoganons, the Province of Sorsogon will send calamity assistance to the affected provinces to help in their rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts,” he added.
Odette is the 15th tropical cyclone to hit the country this year. Around 20 form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility each year, according to the weather bureau PAGASA.
The typhoon brought strong winds and massive floods in the Visayas and Mindanao regions on December 16 that caused thousands of people to flee their homes to seek shelter in evacuation centers.
Authorities are still in the process of collating the total number of affected families and casualties and assessing the extent of damage to properties and infrastructure. Communications and power lines are mostly down in areas greatly affected by the devastation.