President Aquino’s Eid’l Adha Message
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday
joined the Muslim community in the Philippines in the observance and
celebration of Eid’l Adha, otherwise known as the Feast of Sacrifice, which was
declared a special non-working holiday by the government.
In his message, the Chief Executive said the
government is one with Muslim Filipinos in recognizing the solemnity of the
occasion as he remembered prophet Ibraham’s sacrifice and its significance to
the Islamic faith.
“Today, we are reminded of Ibraham’s tale of
sacrifice, and its narrative of unconditional trust, devotion, and fortitude.
In the face of a seemingly insurmountable task, he showed courage and immense
faith in the Almighty," the President said.
"May we find in ourselves the strength and
empowerment Ibraham displayed as we collectively fulfill our great destiny as
individuals, communities, and a nation.”
President Aquino also called on the public “to
remember our brothers who pursue a just and peaceful society, where hope and
optimism reign, and where every Filipino enjoys the right to live in an
environment that nurtures our potential and dreams.”
He underscored that all Filipinos should forever
be “indebted” to all heroes of peace and “ensure that their sacrifice will
never be in vain.”
“We in government are one with you in
recognizing the solemnity of this occasion, and we honor the diversity of our
people’s faiths, each founded on love, compassion, respect, and understanding,”
the President said.
“These are the same ideals that fuel our
national renewal, and humanity’s ongoing journey of transformation. May you
remain a staunch partner of the Filipino people as we march united towards our
brighter tomorrows,” he added.
Eid’l Adha is an annual feast observed by the
Muslim community to commemorate Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his young
and only firstborn son in obedience to a command from Allah. It also marks the
end of the annual ‘Hajj’ or pilgrimage to Mecca. PND (hdc)
President Aquino instructs concerned government
agencies to assist earthquake-hit areas
President Benigno Aquino III has instructed all
concerned government agencies to provide the necessary assistance to areas
damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake Tuesday.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President has ordered
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Social
Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman to immediately address the needs of the local government
units particularly in areas badly damaged by the quake such as Bohol and Cebu.
Valte said the DSWD has allocated a standby
assistance fund of P8.7- million – P5.9-million for Western Visayas and
P2.84-million for Central Visayas.
The President has also instructed the Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to inspect the resiliency of the structures
and establishments in areas jolted by the quake to avoid further accidents.
“Ang instructions po sa akin ng Executive
Secretary ay ulitin po ito sa inyo para matulungan niyo po kaming madala ng
mensahe sa mga kababayan natin doon. Iwasan po muna natin ‘yung mga damaged
structure,” Valte said.
“Ang DSWD po ang magpo-provide ng mga tents doon
sa open spaces, while the structures are being checked by the DPWH, as well as
the Local Public Works Office of the local government units,” she added.
Valte likewise said that the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and the Philippine National Police have been deployed to help in
the rescue operations.
She also assured that the Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has been overseeing the clearing
operations in several airports such as Mactan International Airport and
Tagbilaran City Airport to avoid disruption of flights.
The Department of Health (DOH) has also
activated hospitals in Western and Central Visayas as well as the hospitals in
Metro Manila in case additional manpower will be needed.
The President was briefed by concerned
government officials at the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
office in Camp Aguinaldo Tuesday afternoon.
As of latest update, President Aquino said at
least 28 people were killed following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that jolted
Carmen, Bohol and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Eighteen were killed in
Bohol, nine in Cebu and one in Siquijor. PND
Aquino to visit Cebu, Bohol Wednesday to assess
earthquake damage
President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit quake
ravaged areas in Cebu and Bohol on Wednesday to assess the destruction there.
In a briefing at the National Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Council on Tuesday, the President said he wanted agencies
to account for everyone in the disaster areas especially those trapped in
buildings and isolated locations.
The President also instructed agencies to inform
the people in affected areas that there’s no tsunami warning raised and tidal
waves won’t affect coastal communities.
The Department of Science and Technology said
during the briefing that there are possibilities for sinkholes to appear, and
these could threaten people and infrastructures, so the public must take extra
precaution while in the disaster areas.
Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ready food provisions
and tents for the victims. She also said tents are needed because many people
are afraid to go home as aftershocks continued.
In Tagbilaran Stadium, Soliman said there are
200 families that are already taking shelter there and many were still coming.
The defense department said three C-130 cargo
planes from the air force are on standby to carry relief supplies and
personnel.
It was also reported that the Tagbilaran port
could accommodate naval ships that will ferry relief goods, personnel and other
supplies.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said
there are 12 bridges that were damaged by the quake in Bohol, which will make
transporting of supplies difficult. The department has to make temporary
bridges to make affected communities accessible.
President Aquino said the DPWH must take a
second look at how it does the assessments on the country’s buildings and
structures to ensure their structural integrity and prevent the loss of lives.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio
Singson said that they have been carrying out assessments of the country’s
structures under their structural resiliency program that are focused on
hospitals and schools.
Also during the same briefing, officials from
the Department of Education said that 95 percent of school buildings in Cebu
were reported to have cracks and were now considered unsafe. The DepEd
announced the suspension of classes in Cebu and Bohol tomorrow.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2 in the
Richter scale, making it a major quake, is the strongest that hit Bohol in the
last 400 years, according to government officials.
The quake’s epicenter was tracked at the mountainous
area in Bohol, they said. PND (as)
