Heroes’ welcome for the 120-man Tulong Yolanda team held

Pangasinan contingent repairs classrooms in Leyte town.  The Pangasinan delegation deployed 
by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for a 10-day humanitarian mission (December 13-22, including travel
 time) in Dulag, Leyte repaired and rehabilitated eight classrooms (like the photo at left) which were 
heavily devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.  Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. (center photo, 
left) turned over two classrooms at Dulag Central School (right photo), four classrooms at Dulag SPED 
Center and two classrooms at Dulag National High School to Dulag Mayor Manuel Sia Que (center 
photo, right). The team also conducted cleaning and clearing operations, relief distribution, gift-giving 
of toys to 
kids, health care delivery, installation of lights to church and plaza and film showing at the town plaza.  (PIO Photo by Jun Moran)

Lingayen- - -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. commended the 120-man team from Pangasinan provincial government who went to Dulag, Leyte to extend relief and rehabilitation operations for the Yolanda survivors barangays in the said town.

In the heroes’ welcome rites conducted on December 23 during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Capitol plaza, the governor expressed his appreciation to the employee volunteers who brought with them “the heart and spirit of volunteerism of Pangasinenses.”

“You are the perfect example of what the provincial government is nowadays,” Gov. Espino said as he disclosed that Pangasinan is truly proud of what the team has accomplished in their 10-day mission in Dulag, Leyte.

Board Member Clemente Arboleda, who led the team, recounted how each volunteer did their share to fulfill the provincial government’s mission within the scheduled timeframe (December 16-20).

“It has been a life-changing experience. It has touched our lives. I am not a prayerful person but with what I saw and felt, I have learned how to pray,” Arboleda said as he added that he prays that Pangasinan will be spared from intense calamity like typhoon Yolanda.

Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr., on the other hand, said that the humanitarian mission that was rendered by the provincial government only proves how progressive Pangasinan became over the years under the leadership of Gov. Espino in terms of disaster response and management.

“Dati po tayo ang humihingi ng tulong, ngayon tayo na po ang nagbibigay suporta sa mga kapwa Pilipino natin,” he remarked.

Among the services brought to Leyte included distribution of relief packs to 10 barangays of Dulag town composed of food items, blankets, slippers, and some 2,000 toys for children.

Arboleda reported that some 1,400 families or approximately 7,000 individuals were given relief goods or gift packs through the employees of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

Medical and dental mission were also conducted on December 16-20 by the doctors, dentists and nurses from the Provincial Health Office, serving about 1,300 residents who received medicine items.

Provision of medical and dental services was held in the following areas: Poblacion RHU (Dec. 16), medical-327 and dental-42; Brgy. Calubian (Dec 17) medical-350 and dental-115; Poblacion RHU (Dec 18) medical-105; Brgy. Luan (Dec 19) medical-291, dental-47; and Brgy. Sabang (Dec 20) medical-107 and dental-23.

Aside from Vice Governor Calimlim and BM Arboleda, the Pangasinan contingent was led by Board Members Raul Sison, Liberato Villegas and Generoso Tulagan, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management OIC Chief Fernando de Guzman, Ret. Col. Mariano “Sonny” Verzosa and Col. Manny Velasco as well as PHO Chief Ana Maria Teresa de Guzman, PSWDO Chief Emilio Samson and PIO Chief Orpheus Velasco.

The team arrived in Pangasinan on December 22, 9am. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)