President Aquino directs energy and engineering
sectors to speed up work to enable residents to return home
(LOON, Bohol) President Benigno S. Aquino III
directed the energy and engineering sectors to speed up rebuilding efforts that
will enable displaced residents to return to their homes the soonest possible
time.
During his briefing with the Cabinet and Local
Government Officials on Wednesday at the Loon Municipal Hall, the Chief
Executive said restoring the living conditions of the affected residents
remains to be government's urgent priority.
The President slept on Wedesday night inside a
tent in Loon.
As of Wednesday, 60 were reported dead while
several government vital installations, public buildings and commercial and
residential structures were damaged by the strong earthquake in Loon and other
municipalities in Bohol.
He said he returned to Bohol not only to check
on the progress of the rehabilitation and relief operations for the various
municipalities but to ease the anxiety of typhoon victims.
"Iyong primary, palagay kong problema is
the mindset of the people. And the best way to explain ay ‘pag may bagyo,
darating ang bagyo, aalis iyong bagyo at rebuild na tayo kaagad, ‘di ba? Medyo
tapos na ang problema," the President said.
"Dito, ‘pag nararamdaman ninyo ang
aftershocks, parang the problem persists, ano....Iyong getting the people who
can go back to their houses seems to be the most urgent priority," he
said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that there is no
imminent danger for the Bohol residents, President Aquino said.
He asked the engineers to speed up the conduct
of evaluation on the structural soundness of all structures and repair works in
all affected areas to enable the displaced residents to go back to their
respective homes.
"So iyong normalcy has to be achieved as
early as possible, nandoon na nga raw tayo sa -ber months, weather will be
turning colder soon and we have a population that is exposed to more elements.
That is a problem that can be avoided, and I think we are duty-bound to ensure
that we minimize the risks," he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways will
build bunkhouses in a one-hectare property in Tubigon and in an 11-hectare
property in Loon.
The President also reminded the electrical
engineers and electricians to look into the safety of households in restoring
power lines in the community. PND (js)
Government has enough funds for relief goods for
earthquake victims, President Aquino says
(TAGBILARAN, Bohol) President Benigno S. Aquino
III assured residents that the government has sufficient funds to finance the
relief operations for the earthquake victims as he continued leading the relief
assistance to displaced residents in the province.
On the second-day of his visit to Bohol, the
Chief Executive checked out the Tubigon municipality to see the extent of
damages and the condition of the families who were displaced following the
magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 15.
He first inspected the Tubigon Municipal Hall,
St. Isidore Parish, the public market and the port in Tubigon.
The Chief Executive then proceeded to the
Sagbayan Municipal Hall where he distributed food packs to over 600 families
who were temporarily staying in tents in front of the municipal hall. He also
inspected the town's San Agustin Parish and the public market.
Reports showed that there were 12 casualties and
some 4,018 families were displaced in Sagbayan. The Department of Social Worker
and Development had already distributed 6,080 food packs and 1,352 bottle
waters to residents in Sagbayan. On the other hand, the provincial government
had extended 7,200 food packs and 8,748 bottled waters while private groups
distributed 5,687 food packs and 974 bottled waters.
Joining the President during the inspection were
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson Jr., Social Worker and
Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Bohol
Governor Edgar Chatto and officials of concerned government agencies and local
government units.
The Chief Executive flew on Wednesday afternoon
to Tagbilaran City to visit the municipalities of Loon, Tubigon and Sagbayan.
Upon his arrival on Wednesday, the President
first visited Loon South Central School which serves as one of the evacuation
centers for displaced residents of Loon and nearby municipalities. At the
school, President Aquino led the distribution of relief assistance to affected
families.
He then toured Loon where he inspected the site
of Our Lady of Light Parish which was totally devastated by the earthquake.
President Aquino also checked out the buildings
of the public market and Congressman Natalio P. Castillo Sr. Memorial Hospital
before proceeding to Loon Municipal Hall where he was briefed by officials from
the national government and local government units on the progress of the rehabilitation
and relief operations in the province.
Last October 16, the President flew to the
provinces of Bohol and Cebu to assess the extent of damages brought by the
earthquake. He also directed the officials to firm up strategies to minimize
the impact of the earthquake to the communities
A state of calamity has been declared by the
government in Cebu and Bohol provinces. PND (js)
Aquino once again encourages Boholanos to go
back home
President Benigno S. Aquino III once again
appealed to the people of Bohol to go home so that their lives could go back to
normal.
The President, who spent the night in Loon,
Bohol, said the Phivolcs has already made an assurance that there will be no
repeat of the magnitude 7.2 quake that happened in October 15.
Although aftershocks will continue for two to
three weeks, the full strength of the slipping fault has already been released
so there will be no strong quake, he said in a media interview in Sagbayan.
To the people fearing the presence of sinkholes
in many parts of Bohol, the President said there is an ongoing mapping using
ground penetrating radar, which is scheduled to be completed in the fourth
quarter of 2014.
But the mapping will be finished ahead of
schedule, in the first quarter of 2014 because there are also ongoing studies
being done for the construction of the Panglao airport.
“Sa pamamagitan ninyo (media) mag-aapela na rin
ako, marami tayong mga kababayan nag-alala doon sa bahay nila; nasa loob ng
tent, nasa evacuation centers,” the President said.
“Inulit-ulit natin kay governor, sa ating mga
mayor, kung pwedeng pagtulungan kasama ng DPWH, dumaan ‘yung mga structural
engineer, mga municipal engineer, electrical engineer, masigurado kung ligtas
ang bawat tahanan.”
The people will be exposed to harm with their
prolonged stay in the tent, and the President said he fears an outbreak of
disease if the people continue to stay there.
“So ‘yon ang pakiusap natin. Hindi naman
mag-aala-tsamba, ipaaral natin sa mga dalubhasa, at kung ligtas na ay dapat
sana mabalikan ‘yung mga tahanan.” PND (as)
Aquino administration honors exemplary state
workers
The administration of President Benigno Aquino
III honored this year’s batch of outstanding government officials and employees
in a ceremony held at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
represented President Aquino in conferring the Presidential Lingkod Bayan,
Dangal ng Bayan and Pagasa Awards to state workers who have demonstrated
exceptional dedication and commitment in performing their duties.
In his speech, Secretary Ochoa not only
commended the recipients of the prestigious awards but also those government
workers and volunteers who responded and assisted disaster-stricken areas in
Bohol and Cebu.
“Today, as we congratulate and commend the
recipients of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, the CSC Pagasa Award, and
the Dangal ng Bayan Award, allow me to humbly submit that thousands of nameless
government workers in Bohol and Cebu deserve to be commended as well dahil
tulad ninyo, sila ay tunay na naglilingkod sa bayan, tunay na nagbibigay ng
pag-asa sa taumbayan at tunay na nagbibigay ng dangal sa pagiging empleyado ng
gobyerno,” he said.
For the second time, the President visited Bohol
last Wednesday after the province was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake causing
massive damages to public and private establishments, historical churches and
tourist sites.
Secretary Ochoa reassured that the all concerned
agencies are attending to the needs of those affected and displaced by the
quake.
The Executive Secretary, meanwhile, hoped that
the exemplary works of the awardees would bring back the trust of the public to
the government, which has been tainted with corruption in the past
administration.
“We are extremely grateful to our awardees here
today by committing yourselves to the public interest and by exhibiting acts of
justness, leadership, and nationalism. You are living proof that there is still
so much honor and rectitude in government work,” he said.
“You successfully show that there are civil
servants who are incorruptible, that days can definitely change for the better
in our government. You inspire our peers and colleagues to follow your examples
of extraordinary public service and you aid in improving the capabilities of
government agencies you serve,” he added.
This year’s nine awardees for the Presidential
Lingkod Bayan are led by Albay Governor Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda, Police Chief
Superintendent Rogelio Damazo, Philippine Coconut Authority Division Chief
Reynato Dubongco, Police Senior Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Health Insurance
Department Manager Dennis Mas, Police Chief Superintendent Louie Oppus, Santol
Mayor Daisy Sayangda of La Union, Rice Research Institute Specialist Roel
Suralta and Anabel Ungcad, a public school teacher from Davao de Sur.
The recipients of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan
group category are: Bayawan Integrated Waste Management Team of the City
Government of Bayawan, Negros Oriental; Olongapo City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office; Department of Labor and Employment Single Entry Approach of
the National Conciliation and Mediation Board; and Inclusive Finance Advocacy
Staff of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
For the Dangal ng Bayan award, 11 individuals
were chosen namely: Jail Officer II Joey Abia; Chief Administrative Officer of
Leyte Normal University Pablo Amascual III; Senior Fire Officer IV of Tiwi,
Albay Fire Station Simeon Ballon; Midwife from the Antipolo City Government
Ofelia Buenconsejo; Municipal Health Officer from the Municapal Government of
Sagada Evelyn Capuyan; Local Government Operations Officer from DILG Bangued,
Abra Jimmicio Daoaten; State Auditor III Concepcion Guanzon of COA Cagayan de
Oro City; Municipal Government Department Head Expedizitas Lenares of
Dalaguete, Cebu; Traffic Aide Dionisia Liquido from Antipolo, Rizal; Senior
Jail Officer II Richard Recososa from Butuan City; and Elementary School
Principal Darwisa Sajili-Radah Hja of Hji Yunos Jumdain Elementary School in
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Meanwhile, the CSC Pagasa awardees are: Mayor
Linda Gonzalez of Ligao City, Albay; Laboratory Technician 1 Martina Nepomuceno
of the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines-Los
Baños; Education Program Supervisor Lynn Padillo of the Department of Education
Region V, Legazpi, Albay; Dean Erlinda Relucio of the Bicol University-College
of Industrial Technology, Albay; Mayor Jose Ricafente Jr. of the Municipality
of Rosario, Cavite; Director IV Marivel Sacendoncillo of the Local Government
Academy, Department of Interior and Local Government; and Administrative Aide 1
Kulafu Seballos of the City Government of Bayawan, Negros Oriental.
For the group category, the awardees are: ABRA
Renal Disease Control (REDCOP) Team of the Provincial Health Officer, Bangued,
Abra; Albay Public Safety and Management Officer; Department of Trade and
Industry-Kalinga Management Review Team, Tabuk, Kalinga; and Masaganang Bukas
Team of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.
Awardees of both the Presidential Lingkod Bayan
and Pagasa Award received a gold-gilded medallion crafted by the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas, a plaque containing the citation and signatures of the President
of the Philippines and the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission,
respectively, and cash prize of P200,000 and P100,000, respectively.
The Dangal ng Bayan awardees, meanwhile,
received a trophy designed b National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva and
a cash prize of P200,000. They are also entitled to incentive such as
directorships in government-owned or controlled corporations, local and foreign
scholarships grants, and automatic promotion to the next higher position
suitable to their qualification or commensurate salary.
Secretary Ochoa was assisted by CSC Chairman
Francisco Duque III during the ceremony. The CSC holds an annual nationwide search
for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees in government under its Honor
Awards Program (HAP. The program serves as the core of the government
employees’ incentives and rewards system. PND (jb)
Aquino says Bohol could rise again through cooperation
President Benigno S. Aquino III rallied the
support of all sectors in Bohol assuring them that the government has the
resources to rebuild damaged communities there.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala, may kakayahan ang
gobyerno ninyong tugunan ang pangagailangan ninyo, at yun ang pakay ng gobyerno
talaga, ang asikasuhin kayo. So magtulungan tayo dito, malalaktawan natin itong
pagsubok na ito at kakayanin natin ito,” the President said in an interview in
Sagbayan, Bohol.
The government is prepared to do everything to
rehabilitate Bohol and bring back to normal the lives of Boholanos, he said.
“Yung lahat ng nagsasabing wala nang pondo, etc,
nagkakamali sila. Syempre, bago natin maitayo ito hindi naman ura-urada.
Katulad doon sa port ng Tubigon, pinapaaral ko ‘yung design na ginawa ng port
mismo, dahil kung ibabalik natin, sana hindi lang katulad ‘nung dati, baka mas
maganda pa kaysa sa dati,” the President said.
The government will also help rebuild historical
landmarks like churches in Bohol damaged by the October 15 quake, he said.
Government agencies are finalizing the data to
identify areas to be rebuilt and to know the structures that have to be
prioritized, the President noted.
The President also underscored the need of the
people to go back home once an assessment of their houses is made so their
lives could return to normal.
He said there’s no strong quake happening again
because experts made an assurance that the energy of the fault that slipped has
been released. Experts said there will be continuing aftershocks in two to
three weeks.
The President arrived in Bohol Wednesday
afternoon to oversee the ongoing relief efforts, assess affected
infrastructures and assure the people about safety of going home.
President Aquino spent the night in Loon, Bohol
in a military tent. PND (as)
Government extended substantial volume of relief
goods to Bohol quake victims, says Aquino
Both the national and the local government were
able to provide 163,000 food packs to 60,000 families affected by the October
15 quake in Bohol, President Benigno S. Aquino III reported on Thursday.
In an interview in Sagbayan, Bohol, the
President said the local government of Sagbayan was able to do five rounds of
relief operations to the victims. The Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) made at least three rounds of providing packs which could
last for two to three days, he said.
These figures are separate from the assistance
being extended by private donors, the President said, which include various
organizations like the World Food (Programme), the Philippine Red Cross,
Shelter Box and other foundations.
There are also members of the private sector
that can not be considered NGOs who extended help, he said.
The President also asked relief organizations
and local government units to coordinate with one another so that relief goods
could reach everyone.
In the government’s efforts to rebuild damaged
infrastructure, the President said that although its takes time, the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be working hard to connect isolated
areas in Bohol.
He said the DPWH made an assurance that the four
damaged bridges in Bohol will be repaired in less than a month. By November 20
or earlier, these bridges could be rebuilt, the President said. PND (as)
DOE energizes whole of Bohol, says Palace
Malacanang reported Thursday that the energy
department was able to restore power to all towns of Bohol affected by the
quake.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing Thursday that 100 percent of all the
towns have been energized, of which 83 percent of barangays have also been
energized, and 62 percent of the households now have power.
“Ulitin natin: Lahat po ng bayan sa lalawigan ng
Bohol, 100 percent po sa lahat ng munisipalidad at bayan at siyudad ay mayroon
ng enerhiya o kuryente,” he said.
The government has considered many factors in
restoring power, Coloma said noting energy wasn’t fully restored at barangay
and household levels because of the concerns on the integrity of the
structures.
Experts want to ensure that there are no
structural defects or exposed power lines, before electricity is restored to
avoid accidents.
Coloma said Task Force Kapatid is helping the
Department of Energy assess homes in Bohol damaged by the quake. Task Force Kapatid
is composed on 215 volunteers, he said.
The Palace official also thanked fuel dealers in
Bohol after they made a commitment of not increasing gasoline prices, at least
this week.
Reporting on the conditions of hospitals in
Bohol, Coloma said that based on the assessment by the Department of Health
(DOH), there are three hospitals that need rehabilitation.
“Nauna nang gumawa ng assessment ang mga
engineers sa Department of Health, at tutulungan po ng DPWH ang DOH na ibalik
sa tamang kondisyon ang lahat ng mga naapektuhang pasilidad,” Coloma said
during the press briefing.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is also
active in relief operations, using its naval and air assets, Coloma said.
According to him, the military reported that a
total of 262,176 kilos of relief goods were shipped by the Philippine Navy,
mostly coming from Dumaguete, Aklan, and Cebu.
The Philippine Air Force on the other hand used
its C-130 planes to deliver the goods, logistics, and supplies coming from
Manila. The air force is also using seven helicopters to reach isolated areas.
Out of the 411,680 kilos delivered, 36,287 kilos
have been distributed, Coloma said.
The DSWD spearheads the repacking of relief
goods, each food pack good for a family of five, Coloma noted.
“Ang direktiba ng ating Pangulo ay dapat
kumpleto ‘yung distribution ng two-week food packs. Ibig sabihin, ang bawat
pamilyang apektado dapat makatanggap ng pagkain na puwedeng mag-sustento sa
kanilang pamilya sa loob ng dalawang linggo. At ang direktiba sa DSWD, dapat ay
maganap na ito by October 30 or six days from now,” he said.
Coloma also said Bohol Governor Edgar Chato, who
heads the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Bohol, reported to
the President about the launch of Diskwento Caravan in cooperation with the
trade department.
The caravan will cover the towns of Loon,
Antequera, Maribojoc, Tubigon and Sagbayan. This is aimed bringing back to
normal trade in the province.
The caravan will also help residents have access
to goods in the market following the October 15 quake, Coloma said. PND (as)
Department of energy is working to ensure enough
fuel supply in Bohol, President Aquino says
(LOON, Bohol) The Department of Energy (DOE) has
already implemented measures to address the concern on fuel supply in the
province, President Benigno S. Aquino III said.
During his briefing with his Cabinet and other
Local Government Officials of Bohol on Wednesday at the Loon Municipal Hall,
the Chief Executive said the DOE is still closely coordinating with oil
companies to supply the fuel needs of Bohol which was severely affected by the
magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 15.
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla reported
to the President that the DOE personnel have inspected all gasoline stations in
the provinces that were hit by the earthquake.
"Mr. President, lahat halos ng gas station
ay nag-o-operate na ngayon. Nadaanan natin iyong iba. Ang report sa ABS-CBN at
one point, saka sa GMA na ang gasoline dito ay P120—P100 to P120, ito po ang
bote-bote" Petilla said.
"At sa Maribojoc po, hindi natin maiwasan
ang bote-bote kasi talagang wala silang gasolina kundi iyong bote-bote. Mr.
President, meron tayong nakausap na taga-Petron. Ang plano naming gawin dito is
lagyan ng temporary tangke at saka temporary na pump—manual. By Friday, may
generator na sila; electric na ito. At ang gagawin natin dito, we will try to
eliminate the bote-bote," he continued.
Petilla said 83 percent of the barangays in
Bohol now have electricity, adding that he expects electricity in Bohol will be
completely restored by October 30.
"On a per household basis, ang may kuryente
is about 62 percent. Iyong iba ayaw magpa-ilaw kasi hindi sila sigurado sa
structure nila; iyong iba naman, walang nakatira, so ayaw pa nilang
pailawan," he said.
"Right now, we have 215 katao, Mr.
President, from Eastern Visayas, from Cebu, just about anywhere na puwedeng
pumunta dito at tumutulong sa assessment on a per household basis na, Mr.
President—hindi lang per town, per barangay, pati iyong bahay ina-assess na
natin," he said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council said Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor were among the hardest hit
areas. PND (js)
