November 22, 2024- The Paradise of the Pacific, our beloved Aurora, is now a landscape of devastation. Two towns lie in ruin, countless residents struggling to recover. The weight of Super Typhoon #PepitoPH is heavy, and the pain is overwhelming.

 

Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) key officials recently visited ASCOT Casiguran campus to check on students and deliver relief supplies, especially since communication signals remain unreliable. Along the way, the team witnessed the typhoon’s massive destruction firsthand.

 

The towns of Dipaculao and Dinalungan bore the heaviest damage—it was truly heartbreaking to see their condition. I remember Barangay Dinadiawan in Dipaculao as a place I always looked forward to visiting, but now it’s unrecognizable. Coconut trees, either uprooted or left barren with closed leaves, signal that they may soon wither. The once lush greenery defining the area has disappeared, leaving it like a ghost town.

 

Resorts suffered significant damage, with shattered windows and roofs blown off. Fallen electrical wires and transformers lined the streets, further highlighting the storm’s wrath. Being a coastal area, the contrast was striking: white sand on one side, mud-filled roads on the other, and mountains once green now reduced to bare rock, with trees either cut down or fallen.

 

Some of our team members in the car couldn’t hold back their tears upon seeing the extent of the destruction.

 

One local resident shared their harrowing experience:

 

“Hindi na namin alam kung saan nanggagaling ang tubig. Umabot ng leeg. Akala ko mamamatay na ako.”

 

The destruction is overwhelming, but the spirit of bayanihan and hope remains strong. We also met Mayor Danny Tolentino of Dipaculao, along with his team and barangay captains. While they remained steadfast, the toll of the past days was evident on their faces.

 

Recovering from such devastation will require strategic and meaningful efforts. The damage to livelihoods and infrastructure is extensive:

Farming. Restoring agricultural activities will take time, as coconut trees and other crops need years to regrow and become productive again.

Resorts. Rebuilding tourism establishments will require significant investments, possibly running into millions of pesos, to reconstruct and repair facilities.

Fishing. Many fishing boats were destroyed and need replacement. Providing larger, sturdier boats could better support the community in rebuilding their livelihoods.

Schools. The destruction of educational facilities raises concerns about the safety and learning of children. Rehabilitating schools is essential to allow parents to focus on rebuilding their own livelihoods, knowing their children are secure.

 

ASCOT’s leadership has proposed impactful initiatives, including adopting barangays, sponsoring home renovations, and providing larger fishing vessels. One community development officer also suggested assisting hotel owners in reopening their establishments to revive tourism and create jobs. These efforts go beyond immediate relief—they represent investments in hope, dignity, and the future of these communities.

 

For those willing to help, every contribution counts in rebuilding lives and restoring these areas. Let us come together to aid Dipaculao and Dinalungan in rising from this tragedy.

 

by:

Diana de Mesa-Amazona

Information Officer III/ ASCOT DRRMO Officer