The small convoy of two trucks and two passenger vehicles wound its way north of Manila this morning on the road to Bulacan. Loaded with the first delivery of over 1,000 relief packages the trucks proclaimed clearly that they carried Relief Goods in partnership with The Salvation Army – Philippine Territory and the Hong Kong Government (SAR) and the People of China.We arrived at SM Malls car park in Bulacan where the staff had erected a number of marquis and crowd control measures, to find over 300 people representing their families waiting and cheering as we drove through the park to the distribution site.
Thanks to the Hong Kong Government we are now able to provide a month’s supply of rice, protein and oil as well as some basic medicines, toiletries and bedding to every person in the family. The problem was that the people were not used to getting so much and had not come prepared to carry away over 50kg of rice plus the other things. However, I didn’t hear anyone complain about the problem they faced – instead we witnessed a steady convoy of tricycles loaded to the hilt as hundreds of red shield sacks began winding down the busy roads.
One young woman, concerned about missing out, neglected to mention that she was due to deliver her baby – today. And wouldn’t you know, just as she handed over her ticket to redeem the relief goods, she doubled over in pain as the contractions hit. Thanks to the staff at SM Mall we just happened to have a wheelchair on hand and the lady was rushed up to a waiting tricycle that whisked her off to the hospital.
Over the next month we will repeat this process in 20 different villages throughout the area affected by Typhoon Ondoy until we have supplied 28,000 people with enough rice and goods to assist them over the next month.
As I watched the procession of Salvo Red Shields disappear down the road I heard the news that the next typhoon is due to make landfall tomorrow morning – and once again I am reminded that this relief project is far from over.
