Relief Operations for typhoon Sendong victims

In the dead of the night of December 17, Sendong sent torrents of water and mud through villages and stripping mountainsides bare in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City. Others did not manage to wake up at all as floods washed away entire houses with families inside in dozens of coastal villages.

According to the national disaster agency said 957 were killed and 49 missing on Mindanao after Typhoon Sendong (aka Typhoon Washi) triggered the slides. Most of the casualties were in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and tens of thousands remain homeless, many sheltering in evacuation centers.

The local and international community responded quickly to help the survivors and retrieving dead bodies.

Zorrah Valentin of VALTAN Netowork with children of flood victims

                   Zorrah Valentin (niece of WIMLER’s chairperson) and her husband Peter Paul of VALTAN Network of Digos City, Davao del Sur were among the private individuals who responded to the immediate needs of the victims. They spearheaded the collection of relief goods in Davao del Sur area in partnership with WIMLER Partnership for Social Progress and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cagayan de Oro City.

Through these combined efforts, they were able to distribute relief packs to about 5,000 people

in Bulua, Iponan and Balolang in Cagayan de Oro City. They also brought sacks of used clothes in Valenci, Bukidnon who suffered flash flood during the time they distributed the relief goods.

We thank you all those who made the relief operations for the victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan possible:  Efrain Jimenez, Wim Rispens and Family, Kathleen Amor Cossid, Saripa Macarampat, Floreen Rom, Donnabelle Suello, Mr and Mrs Leo Leynes, Ana Marie Noel, Justynne Kay Noel Tee, Kerra Noel Toloy, Ricah Mian, Pennely Dalumpines, and Mr. and Mrs. Choli Jun Caduyac and Family”.

“Zorrah and Peter Paul Valentin also thank their personal friends and employees who helped them packed the relief goods and for making our simple wish possible. “We thank you from the bottom of our heart, and we would like to share the wonderful feelings of sharing.”

-        Peter Paul and Zorrah Valentin

Below are some of the  pictures taken during the distribution: