By David Vera
A 172-member team from Eastern Visayas, mostly comprising police personnel, returned from the Bicol region after a 10-day post-disaster relief mission. They provided humanitarian assistance and ensured public safety following the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
Eastern Visayas has a history of deploying responders to other regions during national disasters, reflecting the country’s culture of bayanihan, or communal unity. The presence of these interagency responders underscores the significance of regional cooperation in disaster-prone areas of the Philippines, where communities often rally to support each other during natural calamities.