As the agency's step to aiding Typhoon Odette victims, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), through its Regional Fish Ports (RFP), has conducted simultaneous distribution of relief goods and construction materials worth P10 million to over 7,250 typhoon-affected families in Sogod, Southern Leyte; Surigao City; Siargao Island; and Ubay, Bohol on January 26 to 28, 2022. 

Led by PFDA General Manager Atty. Glen A. Pangapalan and Assistant General Manager Ms. Iris R. de Vera, the agency has allocated P10 million from the PFDA corporate funds to assist various provinces in the southern portion of the country that have been severely affected by the strongest storm of 2021. 

Sogod, Southern Leyte

On January 26, the three-way team of PFDA Central Office, PFDA – Navotas Fish Port Complex (PFDA-NFPC), and PFDA – Bulan Fish Port Complex (PFDA-BFPC) arrived in Sogod, Southern Leyte where they distributed 500 relief storage boxes that each contain five kilograms of rice, canned goods, and hygiene kit to the several typhoon-affected barangays. In addition, the agency has also delivered 100 boxes of frozen fish that were received by the LGU of Sogod. The PFDA has also lent 10 freezers for the storage of these frozen goods. 

Subsequently, two 10-wheeler trucks filled with three tons of fishery products and three tons of construction materials from the PFDA – Davao Fish Port Complex (PFDA-DFPC) arrived in Sogod to aid more Odette-stricken barangays from January 26 to January 27. 

According to the records of Sogod-LGU, they have 3,200 homeless families and 7,000 partially damaged households due to Typhoon Odette. 

Surigao City and Siargao Island

Meanwhile, the team composed of PFDA – General Santos Fish Port (PFDA-GSFPC) and PFDA-DFPC  delivered food packs and construction materials to more than 5,000 typhoon-affected families in Surigao City and Siargao Island. 

Typhoon Odette made its first landfall in the province of Surigao del Norte. Torrential rains, strong winds, and storm surges wreck havoc in the area which rendered many families homeless and in need of help. Immediately after, the typhoon made its landfall in Siargao Island which resulted in a very devastating aftermath in one of the country’s top tourist destinations. 

Being the closest Regional Fish Ports (RFP) to some of the target areas, they led the facilitation, coordination, and logistics of the relief operation in said provinces.  

Ubay, Bohol

On top of the P10-million relief fund, the PFDA-NFPC, led by Port Manager Luz P. Ortiz, has organized a donation drive to provide additional boxes of relief packages and rice packs for typhoon-stricken families in Sogod and Ubay. 

The PFDA-CO/NFPC/BFPC team crossed the ocean to visit the municipality of Ubay, Bohol. On January 27, they delivered 500 relief storage boxes and 500 packs of rice (5 kgs each) together with a truckload of construction materials like galvanized iron sheets (yero), umbrella nails, hammers, rolls of tie wire, cut saw, and canvasses to Odette victims in Ubay. 

Ubay, Bohol is a first-class municipality on its way to becoming a city when Typhoon Odette flattened them to the ground. Their primary source of livelihood, which is fisheries and agriculture, has been gravely affected by the typhoon. Fortunately, their municipality is continuously receiving donations from government agencies like the PFDA. 

"Nagpapasalamat po ako nang marami sa PFDA dahil nakarating sila dito sa aming barangay. Kahit na mahirap abutin ang aming barangay ay nakarating sila at nagbigay ng food packs. Ang hirap po talaga dito sa amin kaya maraming salamat po talaga sa inyong tulong," Ms. Ruth Oring of Brgy. Dagsa, Sogod expressed. 

"Ang mga yero (at iba pang construction materials) na bigay ng PFDA ay malaking tong po sa aming mga mahihirap. Ang bahay po namin ay nalugmok ng bagyo. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumulong sa amin mula sa PFDA," Mr. Armando Udtohan of Purok 7, Poblacion, Ubay said. 

Donors who have extended their help in this relief effort through the PFDA-NFPC were PFDA Officials from the Central Office and RFPs and various NFPC clients and stakeholders. 

(PFDA - Public Information Division with reports and photos from PFDA Regional Fish Ports)