GASOLINE stations, banks, stores and other commercial establishments in Ormoc City have resumed operations five days after it was struck by super typhoon “Yolanda.”
Those from Tacloban City and neighboring areas headed to the Ormoc public market to buy food.
Edna Batuigas, a 35-year-old native of Jaro town, Leyte province, traveled two hours to buy food for her family and make phone calls after cell sites were restored in Ormoc City.
“We are afraid of clashes between armed groups and the military,” Batuigas said referring to recent reports of encounters in roads leading to Tacloban City.
The ferry terminal was packed with passengers from different towns in Leyte who wanted to escape Tacloban City, where communications, power and water supply are still down.
Renato Polido, a 51-year-old tricycle driver residing in Barangay Airport, Tacloban City took more than an hour to re-fuel at the nearest gasoline station in Ormoc City.
Still, there were signs of recovery in Ormoc City, whose streets were filled anew with stallholders.
The Ormoc Airport was also filled with people hoping to hitch a free ride to either Manila or Cebu on board a C-130 plane.
The airport is also a drop-in center for relief goods from Mactan-Cebu International Airport.