MATCHSTICKS AGAINST THE WIND Residents walk past a row of toppled electrical pylons in Talisay City, Cebu province, as they survey the damage wrought by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) on Friday. Power and telco outages left scores of towns and villages isolated across the Visayas and Mindanao. —AFP

By Villamor Visaya Jr., Philippine News Agency stringer and Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent

TUGUEGARAO CITY— Police units in northern Luzon are extending relief and emergency aid to the victims of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in the Visayas and Mindanao amid the mounting calls for help.

The Cagayan Valley police on Sunday donated 2,997 packs of assorted relief goods worth P250,000 that were pooled by various police offices in the provinces Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan and Batanes, according to Police Brig. Gen. Steve Ludan, Cagayan Valley regional director.

All police personnel in the region have also pledged to donate their one-day subsistence allowance to the typhoon victims.#