JIMALALUD, Negros Oriental, Philippines — While retrieval and relief operations continue in earthquake-devastated towns in this province, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas, along with the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force joined in efforts to reach badly affected remote villages by airlifting food commodities and family packs to those areas since Sunday.

Some 200 DSWD relief packs containing packed rice, canned goods, bottled water and used clothing were airlifted by the Philippine Air Force in UH1H helicopter to Barangay Owacan, this town, while another 180 food packs and other relief items were also airlifted to isolated villages Eli and Pacuan last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army also helped the DSWD-7 in delivering 250 food packs to Brgy. Planas in Guihulngan which was hit by a landslide.

Also, 450 family packs with used clothing and bottled water were dispatched for Barangay Villegas in Guilhulngan City using the Army’s KM 450 heavy duty military trucks.

DSWD-7 regional director, Ma. Evelyn Macapobre reported initial assistance amounting to over P17 million for eight towns and cities — Ayungon, Bindoy, Jimalalud, la Libertad, Manjuyod , Tayasan and Vallehermoso and Guihulngan City, in Negros Oriental – all affected by said killer quake.

Macapobre said, so far, all goods intended for the affected areas like rice, water, canned goods, used clothing, mats, blankets, slippers, cooking and eating utensils, detergents, among others, have already been delivered.