After the onslaught of ‘Odette’
MAASIN CITY- The residents of this typhoon-battered city are slowly trying to recover.
Feloina Viocente of Barangay Maria Clara, about four kms away from the city proper, is doing the repair of her damaged house by herself with the help of her brother.
Viocente said that she learned carpentry works by observing her husband who is a foreman but currently works at the nearby Hilongos town in Leyte.
The ceiling of their house was blown away due to the strong winds brought by typhoon ‘Odette’ that hit Maasin City on Thursday (Dec.16).
She said that instead of waiting for her husband to repair their house, she chose to do it herself so they will have a roof and will not worry in case there will be rain.
“Eto halong pagod, yung kaba hindi pa rin maalis, nandyan pa rin, at saka syempre po nag-iisip kung saan kami kukuha ng panggastos sa bahay naming. Dagdag pa po yung una, syempre pagkain, kaya talagang magsisikap na lang po ulit para makabangon,” she said when asked how she is feeling at the moment after the disaster struck their village.
The city government has yet to report as to the number of houses damaged due to the onslaught of Odette as inspection, especially those in the upland villages, is still underway.
Mayor Naccional Mercado said several areas in the city remain unpassable due to fallen trees and power lines.
Out of the 70 villages of Maasin, only 26 are located in the city center and along that national road.
Mercado said that they have to prioritize clearing operations for them to deliver food and other essential needs for those living in these areas that remain to be inaccessible.
The city remains without a power supply with communications have yet to be restored.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
