By Jason B. Neola
NAGA CITY, Philippines — In a strong expression of solidarity and the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, the City Government of Naga has dispatched an 18-member team from its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) to Masbate City to assist in ongoing citywide clearing operations following the devastation caused by Severe Tropical Storm Opong.
The Naga DRRM team, which is spearheaded by Raynor Rodriguez as DRRMO head, is also bringing with them a boom truck—one of the most crucial pieces of equipment requested by Masbate’s local government. The truck will be used to clear roads, streets, and public facilities such as schools that were badly hit by the storm.
Masbate bore the brunt of Typhoon Opong’s wrath, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which confirmed the province as the hardest hit among affected areas across Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, and CALABARZON.
The OCD Region 5 reported three fatalities in Masbate: one in Monreal town due to a fallen tree, and two in Masbate City—one from a collapsed wall and another from drowning.
Mayor Leni Robredo, who personally coordinated with Masbate City’s LGU, said she was informed of the urgent need for a boom truck as part of the city’s intensive post-typhoon recovery operations.
“Despite our own preparations for another incoming typhoon expected this Friday, we made the decision to send help to Masbate because we know how critical this period is for them. We have ensured that enough equipment remains in Naga for our own needs,” Mayor Robredo said.
The Naga DRRM team is expected to stay in Masbate for five to seven days. Mayor Robredo expressed hope that the incoming typhoon will spare Naga so that the team can continue their assistance without having to cut the mission short.
This gesture also comes as a form of reciprocation, as Masbate City had previously extended help to Naga during the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in 2024. That event had left Naga’s streets buried in debris and mud, prompting neighboring LGUs to come to the city’s aid.
In a related development, Mayor Robredo also revealed that Naga City is implementing a new policy that will require all city government employees to report to work during typhoons—even if their services are not directly disaster-related. The move comes after the city faced challenges in distributing food packs to more than 6,600 evacuees during Typhoon Opong last week.
“By adopting evacuation centers, employees can help distribute relief goods efficiently. This ensures that no evacuee goes hungry or waits too long for food assistance,” the mayor explained.
Mayor Robredo underscored that proactive planning and shared responsibility are key to strengthening community resilience during disasters—values that are clearly being demonstrated by the city’s support for Masbate.
