By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

DAVAO CITY, Jan 25 (PIA) A resident and spokesperson of the local government unit in Boston, Davao Oriental cited the need for a livelihood that will provide income to coconut communities displaced by typhoon Pablo in Boston, Davao Oriental in December 4.

Judith Binabae, spokesperson of the municipal government of Boston said a sustainable livelihood is important for affected resident to regain back their purchasing and to spur again the local economy.

He said many families depended much on the local industry for the education of their children and to support their daily needs. Binabae said the challenge nowadays for their government is how to provide source of income for families who relied much on the coconut farming which was wiped out by the storm.

He recalled that the strong wind and storm surge which brought tidal waves devastated the town of Boston during the onslaught of the storm which wrecked havoc to Davao Region and Caraga.

“The relief operation runs fine in our town, but we need to go beyond the dole out mentality and provide better livelihood opportunities to our constituents,” Binabae said.

He said that out of the 13,000 total population in their town, 3,000 families were affected by the storm.

Binabae said that to ensure equal distribution of relief goods, the lists of residents of the 13 barangays in Boston were assessed carefully.

“We prevented double registration of the needy in order to serve and cater their needs evenly,” he said.

He observed that during the first days of the relief operation, the lists of affected residents submitted by the barangay chairs were bloated.

Binabae said there were occasions where relief goods did not reach the displaced families, until the local government intervened and led the actual distribution of relief packs.

“The relief operation runs better now with a more defined listing and procedure,” he said.

Binabae also thanked non-government organizations for conducting stress debriefing to children and older residents who showed signs of trauma due to the storm which lasted nearly four hours from two o’clock to six o’clock in the morning in December 4.

He lamented that a wide expanse of the watershed in Boston was also totally denuded by the storm which uprooted even the trees in the forest. (RGA/JSD/PIA XI)