“The water is so precious to us now because since the Typhoon Odette, we really have no water in the island. The price of 5 gallons of water container escalated to ₱100 ($1.95) from only ₱40 ($0.78) before the typhoon,” shares Pastor Samuel Blanco, 42, a minister in Bilangbilangan island.
Most of the boats in the island were also damaged by the strong winds and heavy rain during the onslaught of the typhoon, so less water is transported and sold in the island. One of Pastor Samuel’s neighbors resorted to boil rainwater to use for cooking and drinking.
But Pastor Samuel worries for his two children and wife who are not used to drinking rainwater, so he endured the ₱100-worth of water on the first few days after the typhoon.
His resources, however, became limited that he sought for other source of water.
Their church and house, along with the other houses and boats in the island, were also severely damaged by the typhoon.
To save a little, he traveled to the nearest barangay with water stations, 2 hours away by boat in Talibon. In every trip, he buys at least four to six containers good for three days of his family’s use, a bit cheaper than the water sold in the island.
Until he learned that Operation Blessing’s water station arrived in Talibon. He was first to fall in line with his eight containers, not just for his family but also for his neighbors in the island whom he is trying to reach and share God’s love with.
“If the water station is still here tomorrow, I will return and fetch more water for my other neighbors who are staying in the evacuation center with us,” Pastor Samuel gratefully said.
Operation Blessing’s water station is currently serving potable water in Brgy. San Jose, Talibon, Bohol and nearby communities.
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Make a difference in the lives of our kababayans TODAY. Give at www.operationblessing.ph. For inquiries, contact 09399215543 or 09189067753.
DSWD-SB-SP-000061-2021-Nationwide. Valid until Nov 23, 2022.