THE fact that Eastern Visayas has been hit lately by torrential rains, floods and landslides are known to many.
One of the hardest hit areas is Samar island. This is unfortunate because Samar is one of the poorest places in the country, although the island is huge and is rich in natural resources.
Various recent disaster reports about Samar are heart-rending, to say the least. Among these:
--Eastern Samar declares a state of calamity as families affected by floods rose to 72,000 or 250,000 individuals, way above the initial estimate of Gov. Ben Evardone.
--Calbayog City, San Jorge, Basey and Gandara all approve the declaration of state of calamity. A total of 18 towns are affected by the floods, along with 95 schools.
--All around the island, we see photos of flooded communities and evacuation centers, massive landslides, roads and bridges cut and children of fisherfolk begging for food, their parents unable to fish or find work because of the stormy seas and prolonged rain.
With these sad images as backdrop, we see a ray of hope in humanity for Filipinos, with this story of heroism that happened in Northern Samar.
Corporal Jerry Palacio, 34, of the 43rd Infantry Battalion was part of the Army's rescue team in Barangay Happy Valley, San Isidro town, Northern Samar. He was crossing a concrete bridge in Sitio Km. 6 on January 9 when he got “swept away by overflowing water current” and was “dragged downstream.” Another soldier with him, still unidentified, was also missing.
Palacio's body was found on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Had the accident not happened, he would have reached the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO) in San Isidro, Northern Samar to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operation for flood victims in that town.
Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID), said Palacio "was en route to the MDRRMO in San Isidro to coordinate with the other agencies for the conduct of HADR and to monitor the effects of the continuous rainfall when the unfortunate incident happened.”
A joint search, rescue and retrieval operation was conducted by the 43IB, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to find Palacio until they found his body two days later at Mauo River, in Sitio Marasbara, three kilometers away from the flooded bridge.
Ligayo condoled with the family of Palacio even as he said that the fallen soldier “died [while] trying to save the people of Northern Samar.” Palacio was a native of Mondragon, Northern Samar.
The heroism of Palacio and his buddy who is still missing will be remembered by many Filipinos, especially the common Samareños who are still fighting for survival in this doubly harsh environment.