Located at the northeastern part of Siargao Island, facing the Pacific Ocean is the Municipality of Burgos.

When Typhoon Odette made its first landfall at Siargao Islands, the municipality of Burgos was the most affected. It destroyed the homes of many, health facilities almost became debris and many left without the means to move outside the island.

In the visit at Burgos Municipal Hall on 8 January 2022 there is almost no staff in the town hall on duty, instead, the Regional Nutrition Cluster Team spoke with the Team Leader of DOH-CHD 11, Dr. Allen Christopher Sian about the current situation of Burgos.

According to Dr. Sian, the main concerns of Burgos were open defecation, limited water supply, psychosocial services and maintenance medicines. Upon visit, no reported cases for acute malnutrition but as days running and food availability is dependent on relief assistance, cases for acute malnutrition are probable.

Most of the houses in Burgos are heavily devastated by the typhoon including the comfort rooms. This arises the problem for sanitation, specifically open defecation. Dr. Sian emphasized the need for portalets which shall be stationed to different areas in Burgos.

Limited water supply is also a problem in the town and only one water refilling station tested negative for E. coli test.

With the damages and trauma sustained by each member of the families, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services is highly recommended.

As of the visit, DOH-CHD 11 is conducting a playtime activity with children while parents are building their destroyed houses. DOH-CHD 11 also conducted MHPSS services to the employees of Burgos Municipal Hall and Burgos Rural Health Unit.

Heavily damaged, the Rural Health Unit (RHU) facility of Burgos continuously provide services with the UNICEF Philippines provided a 42 sq m tent to be used as a temporary facility. Due to the impact of the typhoon supplies of medicines, equipment, and everything under the facility were blown and damaged thus the need for medicines, multivitamins, painkillers and other initial relief are needed.

As of now, the Municipality of Burgos is slowly recovering from the fury of typhoon Odette with the help of many, the government and private groups and organizations.# MPRayco