It must have been the longest journey of his life for Reynaldo Alejandro, 59.

He came from Iloilo and was waiting for a ferry at Terminal 3 in Cebu port to sail him to Ormoc, Leyte where he can ride to reach Naval, Biliran. Reynaldo was looking for his 25-year old daughter, Nina Marie. He had not heard of her since Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) hit the country.

“All I know (is) based on news, our village was totally destroyed. I was able to text my family before the typhoon came. They said they are preparing for the typhoon,” Reynaldo said.

His daughter lived in a coastal community in Naval, Biliran. The last conversation with her daughter said they were ready for the storm.

Jenelyn Villarin, 26, meanwhile, came all the way from Iligan City to help her brother Jeffrey. She said her brother lost their home and they had nothing to eat.

“They haven’t received any relief goods yet from the government or private groups since the typhoon,” said Jenelyn. She brought with her goods for her brother and his family.

She said her brother texted them about 5 AM on November 8 saying the wind was so strong. After that, they lost contact with his brother after the signal went down.

“We only knew about his situation when he texted us using a different number which he borrowed. We were so worried for days,” she narrates.

Jenelyn said he cannot count on government’s help for her brother. It was her turn to help her brother because during the time when typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi) struck Northern Mindanao in 2011, it was her brother who helped, them not the government.

Reynaldo Lumubay, 35, from Bohol, had with him goods for his family in Naval. He said his family received no helped since the typhoon and they had nothing left since Yolanda washed out their whole village.

Cristine Alcala, 27, from Zamboanga del Norte, was with her husband travelling to Basey, Western Samar for her family. She said her family had nothing to eat because they received no relief since the typhoon.

“I do not know why the government is so slow to help the victims. It’s been days since the typhoon but until now people are waiting,” said Cristine. Although Cristine understands that even officials became victims of the typhoon, she believes that the national government has the resources to speed up its relief operations.

Since Cristine has minimal resources, they asked help from his neighbors for her family. She said they were disappointed with the government’s failure to respond to the needs of the victims. She was thankful to Barangay Del Pilar and to the Municipality of Pinan for their support.

“It is better for individuals to help each other rather than the government. It seems the government is not prepared for the typhoon. The government response to the victims is disappointing, considering there are a lot of reliefs being donated by the people,” Cristine said.