By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
SUPPLIES brought by the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived on Tinian on Monday afternoon to provide relief to island residents following the devastation of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
In an interview, Matthew Masga, who was tasked by Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan to handle distribution of the relief supplies, said a majority of Tinian’s 2,000 residents are expected to line up once the supplies arrive at the designated staging area at the Tinian Sports Complex Gymnasium in San Jose.
Masga said he was told the supplies consist mostly of bottled drinking water and ready-to-eat meals. He added that the supplies were already at the Francisco M. Borja/Tinian International Airport. Once paperwork is completed, he said, the supplies will be transported to the staging area.
He said residents who had heard about the arrival of supplies had already been calling him to ask what time distribution would begin at the gym.
Regarding the impact of the typhoon, Masga said many houses were destroyed, but residents have mostly refrained from entering their homes and are instead documenting the damage as they await the FEMA assistance application process.
Representatives from various agencies are currently on the island assisting with debris removal operations. Commonwealth Utilities Corp. personnel are also in the villages working to repair power lines damaged by the typhoon.
He added that IT&E service has been restored.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
