Over 600,000 workers displaced due to Typhoon Odette

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published Jan 18, 2022 6:10:07 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) — Hundreds of thousands of workers were displaced by the destructive Typhoon Odette, the Department of Labor and Employment said Tuesday.

“Iyong epekto ng Bagyong Odette ay umaabot po ng mga 600,000 plus ang na-displace na workers natin,” said DOLE chief Silvestre Bello III in a virtual briefing.

[Translation: The effect of Typhoon Odette is that the number of displaced workers already reached 600,000 plus.]

The typhoon ravaged Visayas, Mindanao, and parts of Luzon last December, leaving billions of pesos in damages to agriculture and infrastructure.

“Pero fortunately, ‘yung displacement naman ay hindi lahat permanent. Karamihan sa kanila temporary displacement. So sa tingin ko mapapabilis ang recovery natin from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette,” said Bello.

[Translation: But fortunately, not all instances of displacement are permanent. Most cases are temporary displacement. So, I think recovery from the onslaught of Typhoon Odette will be quick. ]

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier assured all government assets will be used to help the typhoon’s victims. Foreign aid has also poured in for rehabilitation efforts in affected areas.

SOURCE: https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/1/18/DOLE-displaced-workers-Typhoon-Odette.html