Volunteerism is Alive in Davao City

Davao City was lucky to have been spared by the recent Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). But just the same, the Davaoenos' hearts went out to those badly affected in Samar, Leyte and Panay.

With a mayor like Rody Duterte who is a true and strong leader in the real sense of the word, it's hard not to show compassion to people suffering from the devastation of natural calamities. Mayor Duterte was among the first to respond to the Taclobanons days after their areas were ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda. He immediately brought his team including medics to Tacloban to personally assist them in their needs.

This kind of leadership indeed has a ripple effect on the Davao City residents. It has a positive impact on people in that it has prompted them to help in their own way such as by volunteering in the repacking of relief goods.

I have personally witnessed the strong spirit of volunteerism here in the city in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. One Sunday afternoon, I brought my 8-year-old daughter with me to the DPWH depot where the DSWD has been holding its repacking efforts for the survivors of Tacloban which was among the hardest hit areas in Leyte. There, we helped in segregating and arranging the plastic bags to be used in repacking the rice.

We didn't know anybody there but everyone was friendly and accommodating. We didn't feel uncomfortable at all because everyone was focused on repacking the goods and help the Yolanda survivors who, at that time, were living without food and shelter.

A DSWD officer I spoke with at the warehouse said the number of volunteers right after Yolanda went up to 25,000 from only 5,000 after the devastation brought about by Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental last December 2012.

It's an inspiration to see Davaoenos unite for victims and survivors of calamities even those who are far from their own region. Indeed, a good leader makes good followers and that's what Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is.