Buhi, Camarines Sur – Forty one-year old Jane Alzaga is clueless how her family can move on after Super Typhoon Nina (international name Nock-Ten) destroyed their house on Christmas eve.

After more than a month, Alzaga together with her husband and nine kids are still homeless. They are among the 43 displaced families who are still staying in the evacuation centers, waiting for the Local Government Unit’s (LGU) advice as to when they will be allowed to go back to their place.

According to Buhi town Mayor Margarita Aguinillo, 21,000 families were displaced in their municipality. About, 4,400 households no longer have houses to return to.

“Because of the damage, we declared a state of calamity. Apart from the houses, around 80% of our crops, which is the main source of livelihood of our citizens, was destroyed,” she said.

Although the LGUs in typhoon-ravaged towns in Bicol have been doing their part to help the locals rise from the crisis, Aguinillo noted that the aid from other organizations like the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has been a big help to them.

A few weeks after Super Typhoon Nina hit the Bicol Region and some parts of Quezon Province, PAGCOR’s President and Chief Operating Officer Alfredo Lim spearheaded relief missions in typhoon-devastated areas covering the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Marinduque, Sorsogon and Quezon.

PAGCOR initially allotted P2.8 million to provide 10,000 relief packs containing rice and other grocery items for the typhoon victims.

Apart from the agency’s allocation, COO Lim, who personally visited the devastated areas in Camarines Sur and Quezon, also used his personal money to help the affected locals. He distributed an additional of 1,000 relief packs containing grocery items.

“My heart bleeds for them. You see the extent of devastation. They have no visible means of income. They depend on agriculture, kaya lang nasira. Wala silang makain, kung hindi mo sila tutulungan, paano sila makakabangon,” Lim said.

Lim explained that PAGCOR is looking for ways to provide more assistance to typhoon victims despite the limited resources. “We cannot provide for all of their needs. We can only do so much because we only have limited budget. However, seeing the smiles of the people despite what they have been through is fulfilling. They are very appreciative, masaya sila kahit nagkaron ng problema. We’d like them to know that they are not alone because we are helping them,” the PAGCOR COO said.

Apart from relief packs, PAGCOR also donated more than 600 galvanized iron sheets and umbrella nails in some areas in Quezon province. “Instead of donating cash, we might as well provide construction needs to help rebuild the houses of residents who were greatly affected by the typhoon,” Lim added.

Based on a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), damages to agriculture and infrastructure brought by Super Typhoon Nina has reached P5.2 billion in Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan) regions.

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