Distribution of Hot Meals A Must For Typhoon Ondoy Victims

As simple as it is, but the distribution of hot meals should be a top priority in the relief effort for Filipino victims of Typhoon Ondoy's wrath. There are now around 374,000 Filipinos who are reported to be billeted in evacuation centers scattered around the Greater Manila region and other areas in Luzon. Their homes are either destroyed or unlivable due to rampaging flood waters brought by Typhoon Ondoy. This typhoon cut a swath of destruction over the weekend in the capital region of the country. As of today, it was reported that 240 lives had been lost. The worst affected areas were located in Rizal province. In the height of the storm, flood waters rose to the roofs of houses and people were seen standing on rooftops. Even when the storm has weakened and left the country, people were forced to stay temporarily in evacuation centers. Relief goods are now pouring in in distribution centers set up by the government and the private sector as well as the media giants ABS-CBN and GMA-7 which conducted round the clock coverage of the calamtity. But more than the donations of canned goods and clothing, the flood victims should receive hot meals each day that they are still in the evacuation centers. Volunteers responding to the spirit of "bayanihan" or selfless volunteerism, should see to it that flood victims are given the best of care. At any rate, it appears that the distribution of food, medicine and other means of assistance for the flood victims are starting to pick up in an orderly manner. Through the leadership of the National Disaster Coordinating Council which is led by Defense Sectretary Gilbert Teodoro, the orderly rescue and relief effort, however massive, is gaining headway in all affected areas amidst the gloom and doom that just swept into the country over the weekend. The call for unity and volunteerism sounded out by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was effective in stirring the "bayanihan" spirits among thousands of Filipinos who are now trooping to evacuation centers to lend assistance. This only shows that the Filipino spirit is still up high and it is not defeated by a natural disaster such as Typhoon Ondoy. More power to the Filipino people!