DAVAO City – The typhoon-affected families in the provinces of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte and Davao City received ‘noche buena’ presents on December 22 and 23.

Spearheaded by the Social Welfare Department, the gift giving in the towns of Compostela and New Bataan, Compostela Valley on Saturday was led by cabinet members –Corazon Juliano-Soliman of DSWD, Rosalinda D. Baldoz of DOLE, Luwalhati Antonino of MINDA, and NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos.

DSWD has assigned teams in every municipality to supervise the distribution and each team has stationed 2-3 workers in the designated distribution sites in the town. The distribution was conducted in coordination with the local government unit. Some 173,000 packs shall have been delivered by Sunday, December 23.

Each ‘noche Buena’ pack contains 1 ½ kilos bihon, 2 cans corned beef, 2 packs fudgee bar, 1 bottle sandwich spread, 1 can fruit cocktail, 1 can condensed milk, 1 box cheese, 1 pack choco candies and 1 piece malong which will be used to package the goods.

“Dako akong pasalamat kay makatabang gyud ni sa akong pamilya. Nalipay ko  kay ang gobyerno nagpakabana sa among kalisdanan. Di ko moingon nga blue Christmas, white lang gihapon. Pasalamat ko kay ang kinabuhi nasalbar so white Christmas dyud(I am so grateful because this would really help my family. I am happy that government is concerned in our suffering. I won’t say it’s blue Christmas, but it’s white still. I am thankful because lives were saved so definitely it’s white Christmas),” shares Bernabe Bacalso, 65, of Purok 2, Compostela Proper. Bernabe is a Cebuano who migrated to Compostela. He said his ‘purok’ was the worst-hit. Most of those who queue up at NIA Compound for the gift giving on Saturday were residents of Purok 2. The muddy water that penetrated Bernabe’s house was neck-deep.

Gina Melallos, 43, also of Purok 2 said, “Salamat dyud kaayo og dako sa regalo nga among nadawat karong adlawa (Thank you so much for the gift we got today).”

Gina has also received clothes donations earlier. She now uses her linoleum floormat as kitchen roofing as the original roof was snatched during the typhoon rampage. Gina’s husband works as a contractual banana plantation worker and drives a motorcycle on the side.

“Salamat kay nakadawat mi og pinaskuhan gikan sa DSWD (Thanks so much because we received a Christmas present from DSWD), Alberta ‘Daday’ Maquiling gratefully enthused. Daday has 6 children and now occupies one room in the newly-completed bunkhouse in Compostela Proper.

Despite the heavy rains last Saturday, affected families flock to the distribution sites just to get their Christmas present and make their Noche Buena more festive. Be a volunteer! DSWD needs you! Join hundreds of volunteers in repacking relief goods at the Disaster Relief Operations Center at the DPWH Depot, Panacan, Davao City.  (DSWD)### (DSWD-Social Marketing Service) 24 December 2012