Ruby ‘Toll’ Clarified, Survivors Continue to Receive Food Assistance

Borongan City, Eastern Samar (PIA) – Earlier Thursday, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Levi Nicart reported nine casualties in the entire province of Eastern Samar.

According to Nicart, these are confirmed deaths and reports were signed by the mayors themselves—one in Jipapad: two in Sulat: two in Dolores and four in Borongan.

Also, as per DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, it is zero casualty in Northern Samar and one in Samar province. That means Ruby death toll is 10 in the entire island of Samar instead of the 21 (16 in some reports) deaths as earlier reported.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said earlier that we have pre-emptive evacuation and cooperation to thank, for the low ‪ death toll in Samar, compared to other natural calamities.

Government t continues to provide food for evacuees and even those who have already left the evacuation centers. Since the Libas Bridge in San Julian is still impassable, DILG Sec Mar Roxas tasked chiefs of police to inform LGUs that they need to pick up food rations at the said bridge until today.

DPWH assured that said bridge will be passable starting Wednesday night.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman meanwhile informed that as of December 10, all families in Eastern Samar will receive food packs through their respective municipal local government units (LGU).

She said that 95, 417 families will be served an equivalent of 6 kilos of rice. (MQuirante/aen)