Humanitarian contingent deployed to flood-hit provinces in E. Visayas

OFF TO SAMAR. Some of the items and equipment that the humanitarian contingent from MMDA will bring to the flood-hit provinces of Northern and Eastern Samar. The two teams will stay in the provinces as needed to address the needs and concerns in the area. (Photo: MMDA/Facebook)

MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sent off a 40-man contingent to Northern and Eastern Samar after these provinces had been hit by floods due to shear line and a low pressure area.

In a news release Thursday, the MMDA said the contingent is composed of personnel from the Public Safety Division and Road Emergency Group, and divided into two groups.

Both groups are tasked to carry out humanitarian and relief operations to affected residents.

MMDA acting chair Don Artes said each group would bring 30 units of solar-powered water purification systems. Each unit can filter 180 gallons of water per hour.

“With the lack of potable water supply in the area, our team’s main task is to set up water filtration systems in communities with limited to zero supply of clean water to drink,” he said, noting that one group of humanitarian contingent can produce 21,600 liters of water per hour.

“This is in response to the directive of President Marcos to extend humanitarian assistance to our kababayans in Northern and Eastern Samar who have been severely affected by heavy flooding,” he added.

The two teams will stay in the provinces as needed to address the needs and concerns in the area.

Both the provincial councils of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar have declared a state of calamity in their respective provinces due to heavy rains and landslides.