RAFI Extends Aid for OSPA Training Center in Ormoc

● Civic groups here reported relief efforts and project since super typhoon Yolanda wrecked the city.

Ormoc City– Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., (RAFI) extended anew rehabilitation assistance for the Ormoc Sugar Planters Association (OSPA) Training Center that was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda in November last year while civic groups here presented help efforts to Cebu and Ormoc press on Friday last week during the media visit.

Rotary Club of Ormoc, Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay, Ormoc Supreme Lions Club, and Kiwanis Club of Geo-Ormoc presented power point reports of their respective relief efforts and projects for survivors months after super typhoon Yolanda devastated the city.

OSPA Training Center

Inaki Larazabal,Jr., of Ormoc Sugar Plantation Association (OSPA) is thankful to RAFI for providing rehabilitative assistance worth P1.596 million to the OSPA Training Center.

OSPA Training Center was formerly used for vocational courses under TESDA, but was totally devastated during the typhoon.

The building is now under renovation with the help of some donors that include PBCOM, Jessica Yap, Ilo-Ilo New Agri. – Indust. Marketing, and Birches Group, LLC.

Rotary Club of Ormoc

Roy Bumagat of Rotary Club of Ormoc presented their projects for the past 7 months. He said their projects include school rehabilitation in San Jose Elementary School with 12 newly constructed classrooms, 13 repaired classrooms, 12 repaired classrooms in Patag Elementary school, 3 new classrooms in Valencia, and 25 repaired classrooms in Can-adieng.

They also provided 46 motorboats to some affected fishermen in Palompon, Albuera, and Ormoc. Bumagat said they also had medical missions, and relief goods operations.

Ormoc Supreme Lions Club

Ormoc Supreme Lions Club also presented their rehabilitative efforts through Mr. Jens Kruska. Kruska recalled that on November 14, 2013 or seven days after Typhoon Yolanda, a news crew arrived from New Zealand (whose name he didn’t mention) whom he took around Ormoc City to check the city’s condition.

He said that they were able to raised 600,000 NZ dollars in three days. He also added that UNICEF also gave support for the benefit of Ormoc District Hospital. Krusca said that his team received immediate responses from Lion Clubs members including the Cebu Lion group for repacking goods for Ormoc.

The Malaysian Lions also sent boxes of rice that were distributed in many barangays in Ormoc in Tacloban, he said.

Malaysia Counterparts

Krusca said the Lions Malaysia and 26 other members who also visited Ormoc also provided motorboats, fishnets, power tools, sewing machines and many others that cost around 2.7 million pesos.

Kruska added that a Turkish foundation, who saw their appeal on Facebook, pledge to send financial support of around P1.5M worth for goods like rice, corned beefs, and hygiene products.

Krusca said they planned to donate these items to some barangays in Palompon, Isabela, two areas in Tacloban, Babay City and Ormoc tentatively scheduled between July 2 to 7.

Other responses include We Filipino Inc. in Florida that will send 750,000 pesos for “Bangkas” for fishermen under some qualifications, Kruska added.

Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay

Rodette Arevalo of Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay (RCOB) said that they decided to work on relief operations, medical and livelihood assistance, with a main focus of rebuilding Ormoc after the typhoon. She added that the help will depend on the salient requirements of a particular community, which includes basic supplies, medical supplies, equipments and assistance, and a feeding program.

They also have livelihood projects that include building homes, and school, and relief operations to far-flung areas.

Arevalo added that RCOB also distributed housing assistance to families with an allocation of at least 20,000 worth of housing and construction materials.

“To date, RCOB have aided 127 families, with either totally or partially devastated houses; yet, they have the goal to help 50 to 100 more families”, Arevalo said.

OSPA Damaged after Typhoon Yolanda

Kiwanis Club

Kiwanis Club of Geo-Ormoc also provided relief operations for the victims. The organizers said their relief operations was held at Barangay Masarayao, Kananga for 262 families, Brgy. Tinag-an, Albuera for 150 families, Brgy. Caridad, Baybay, Leyte for 300 families, Red Cross Village, and Brgy. Bagongbuhay, Ormoc with 276 families.

Photo above: Mr. Inaki Larazabal, Jr. showing the current renovation at the Ormoc Sugar Plantation Training Center to the RAFI representative, and members of the local media.