President Aquino says situation in Tacloban City
under control
President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday
maintained that the situation in Tacloban City, one of the areas hit hardest by
Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), remains under control.
Interviewed in Tacloban City, the President said
the government is also working to allay fears that there may not be enough food
and water.
“I believe so,” he said when asked if he
believes the situation is under control amid reports of looting.
The President said the challenge is to show the
people here that “they don’t have to be desperate, it’s coming, if it’s not
already on the way.”
“Because they don’t have TV, radio or newspapers
to be able to disseminate the information, hence the anxiety persists. So that
is a new challenge for us,” he said.
In the meantime, the President stressed that
food packs, water purification facilities and other relief goods are on the way
or have arrived in Tacloban City.
The President also reiterated the government’s
priority is to take care of the survivors and those who are injured.
He also said the local government units have
designated areas for mass burials as the remains of the fatalities may pose a
public health hazard.
The President likewise said that members of the
international community had signified their intention to help.
“All the help that will come in will undoubtedly
ease the burden of our people,” he said. PND (jl)
DSWD has resources for relief operations in
Eastern Visayas
(ROXAS CITY) The Department of Social Welfare
and Development said that it was able to disbursed P2.6 million as of Sunday
for food assistance to the different provinces in Eastern Visayas.
In its report to President Benigno S. Aquino III
the DSWD said that it distributed a total of 11,297 family packs specifically
in Capiz. DSWD regional office gave 2,510 family packs or a total of 655,110.
More goods from regional offices are coming, the
DSWD told the President in a briefing in Roxas City. The President arrived in
Roxas City Sunday to assess typhoon damages and coordinate relief efforts.
The DSWD regional offices in Region 6 have
24-hour service, repacking goods 24-hours a day. It also assured the President
that it has enough funds after the central office provided P15 million.
With regards to the medical conditions of the
typhoon victims, the Department of Health reported a total of 307 injured
persons.
In the briefing with the President, health
officials asked for more supply of medicines for Capiz.
The President asked for a list of medicines
needed and told officials that the DOH central office will provide the supplies
needed.
To restore power supply, the President ordered
local power distributors to coordinate with other electric cooperatives and with
the military to bring back the supply of electricity
The Capiz Electric Cooperative said 90 percent
of its distribution system was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda. In two to three
days, Capelco told the President that it could energize the city proper of Roxas
City.
For the remaining barangays outside Roxas City
electricity will be finished within 30 days and of the 16 municipalities, it
will be finished in three months. PND (as)
President Aquino says national government
temporarily takes over LGU in Leyte to strengthen relief efforts
(TACLOBAN, Leyte) The national government
temporarily takes over local government works in Leyte to process data from the
ground and property determine the needs of the people so the government could
send necessary assistance, President Benigno S. Aquino III said during his
visit to here on Sunday.
The issue is the availability of the data from
the ground, the President said in an interview in Tacloban airport. He added
that this kind of information is needed in order for the government to match
the resources needed.
The local government couldn’t function well
because the personnel, especially the first responders, were also affected by
the typhoon and failed to report to work, the President said.
Aside from ensuring the local government is
running, the President said he ordered additional police and military forces
for Tacloban to restore order after receiving reports of looting. He said
armored personnel carriers will arrive in Tacloban to help enforce the law.
President Aquino arrived in Tacloban Sunday
morning to personally assess the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda this
week. After arriving around 10:30 a.m. he inspected the heavily damaged
passenger terminal of the Tacloban airport.
After that the President had an aerial
inspection of Leyte followed by briefing national and local officials.
Accompanying the President were Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas,
Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Public Works and Highways Secretary
Rogelio Singson. PND (as)
President Aquino declares November 15 as special
non-working-day in Oriental Mindoro in celebration of its 63rd Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
November 15, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working) day in the
province of Oriental Mindoro in celebration of its 63rd Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No.679 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on Nov. 6 to give the people of Oriental Mindoro the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
In 1950, Oriental Mindoro became an independent
province by virtue of Republic Act No. 505 otherwise known as "An Act to
Create the Provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro." PND (js)
President Aquino says saving the lives of people
remains the top priority in typhoon's aftermath
President Beningo S. Aquino III said the
government is doing its best to save human lives and help the victims recover
from the tragedy following the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (international name
Haiyan), the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.
In an interview aired over CNN in Tacloban City,
the Chief Executive said on Sunday that he issued several directives to various
government agencies to help the typhoon victims.
The President said saving the lives of people
and helping the victims recover from the tragedy remain the top priority of his
government.
"We are now actually tasking the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and also the Department of Social Welfare and
Development to retrieve all the bodies. I think the local government units have
already designated areas for mass burials because they pose a health—public
health hazard; identification for all of them.... The numbers are really
alarming but still subject to verification," the Chief Executive said.
The President emphasized the necessity to build
bunkhouses to accommodate the 45,000 displaced families.
"Where can we house them temporarily while
we’re building?” We’ll be building what we call bunkhouses to house about
45,000 families, so they will be sheltered from all the elements," he
said.
He also ordered the Department of Public Works
and Highways and local engineers to immediately repair the damaged roads and
bridges so that the basic goods could reach the victims, particularly food,
water, medicines and clothing.
"But the priority now has to be food,
restoration of water, and power and communications. That’s why we’ve been
tasking our Department of the Interior and Local Government to go and talk to
each individual local executive and to get whatever data they possess with the
end in view of determining which communities we lack information on, are
isolated, so that we can send the necessary response," the President said.
"The police are reporting about 10 percent
of their established plantilla actually stuck to their posts. So we have
augmented our security forces to—about 300, and other functions of government
will be provided by the various departments," he added.
The President continues to assess the extent of
the damages as well as oversee the ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts.
"I was told today for instance that there
were 20 landslides and normally, landslides are really devastating .... There
are no reports of any casualties from these 20 landslides," he said. PND
(js)
Palace says it’s more important for state of
calamity to be declared at the local level
Malacañang on Monday said it is more important
for local government units affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to
declare a state of calamity in their respective areas, than for the national
government to do so.
Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras
said local government units that do so at their level can do many things that
will speed up the delivery of relief goods and services.
“I think it’s more important for local
governments to declare it. That’s one of the things we explained to the mayors
yesterday. A lot of cities and municipalities as early as Saturday declared a
state of emergency. The minute they declare a state of emergency, it allows
them to do so many things,” Almendras said at a media briefing.
Also, he said his focus now is to make sure the
Cabinet and different government agencies can work together to address the
needs of those affected by Yolanda.
Almendras likewise said that the national
government is now trying to find ways to send power generators of the
Commission on Elections to Yolanda-affected areas.
He said the Comelec agreed to lend the national
government some generators that were supposedly for recent elections but went
unused.
The generators are needed to power key
facilities, including communication equipment so residents in affected areas
can contact their loved ones.
Almendras also said Transportation Secretary
Joseph Emilio Abaya is trying to arrange for trips between Manila and Tacloban
City, as commercial flights between the two points are still difficult.
He added that clearing is ongoing in key roads
so goods can be moved to the affected areas in Capiz.
On the other hand, Almendras said two tanker
trucks are expected to reach Tacloban City within the day.
Almendras reiterated that now is not the time
for fault-finding or finger-pointing, although suggestions and constructive
comments on how to improve the delivery of relief goods and services are very
welcome.
“Suggestions and comments are very welcome. We
do not claim brilliance, na alam namin ang lahat na solution. Pero
ipagtatanggol namin ang tao namin in thefield. Napaka-unfair ang criticisms sa
people who are trying to help (Suggestions and comments are always welcome. We
do not claim brilliance or to know all the solutions. But we have to defend our
people in the field. Some criticism against them are unfair because they are
trying to help),” he said. PND (jl)
Cooperation between national government, LGUs
needed to help Yolanda victims, Palace says
Malacañang on Monday stressed anew the need for
the national government to work with local government units to help Filipinos
affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras
reassured the LGUs that there is no finger-pointing going on, especially now
that the national and local governments are pressed for time.
“Hirap na hirap ang national government to
penetrate the locality. Hindi namin kilala ang barangay captain. Hindi ko alam
ang pangalan ng barangay, much more kung nasaan sila. Sa Pablo ang daming
natutunan doon. Kapag ang local government at national government maganda ang
coordination, napakadaling iabot ang tulong (The national government has a hard
time getting to the residents in the localities. We cannot identify the
barangays, much less locate them immediately. But one thing I learned while
addressing the needs of victims of Tropical Cyclone Pablo is that if officials
of the national and local governments work together, they can quickly reach
those who need help),” Almendras said at a media briefing.
“We’re pressed for time, we need to respond, we
need to move,” he added.
Besides, Almendras said President Benigno S.
Aquino III had instructed them to deliver the needed relief items to affected
areas in the most efficient way possible.
Several areas in the Visayas and Southern Luzon
had been affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda that made landfall six times last
Friday before exiting the Philippines the next day.
Almendras said they particularly need the local
governments, including those at the barangay level, to set up a leadership
structure that will make sure the relief items for residents are received and
distributed properly.
The local leaders would also be in the best
position to know how long relief goods such as food packs would last, he added.
“It makes the whole process more efficient if
the ground is well-organized and ready to accept relief goods,” he said.
“We all need to work together... There’s a need
to organize ourselves well,” he added. PND (jl)
Palace chides some Filipinos for exploiting
Yolanda situation
Malacañang on Monday chided some Filipinos for
exploiting the situation in some areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan).
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said this is
a time Filipinos should band together and help each other, instead of taking
advantage of the miseries of others.
“Iyon po ay isa sa mga concerns that we will
have to address. Right now, we are doing clearing operations and we would urge
our fellow Filipinos huwag naman po i-take advantage ang misery ng kapwa
Pilipino. Hindi ho siguro magandang gawin iyon (It is one of the concerns that
we’ll have to address. We urge fellow Filipinos not to take advantage of the
misery of other Filipinos. It is not the right thing to do),” he said at a
media briefing.
“This is a time where all Filipinos should band
together, help each other and not to take advantage of the misery that has
befallen all of the affected areas in Eastern Visayas,” he added.
Lacierda made the call after being informed that
some Filipinos driving habal-habal (modified motorcycle) are charging people
traveling between Ormoc and Tacloban Cities up to P4,000.
Several Filipinos are still reeling from the
effects of Super Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated parts of Visayas and
Southern Luzon last weekend.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene
Almendras said it is important to establish command and control in affected
areas, such as in Tacloban City, to curb looting.
Almendras said the government has to establish
“command and control in a scenario immediately” and it has managed to do so in
Tacloban. PND (jl)
President Aquino declares state of national
calamity
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday
declared a state of national calamity due to the massive destruction caused by
Super Typhoon "Yolanda" in order to hasten the rescue and
rehabilitation efforts, control prices of basic commodities, and ensure peace
and order.
In his proclamation announced on nationwide
television, the President said Yolanda caused “widespread death, destruction
and incalculable damage in several areas,” particularly in the Visayas region
and the province of Palawan.
“The declaration of a state of national calamity
will hasten the rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the
government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian
assistance,” he said in the proclamation.
He added such a declaration will effectively
control prices of basic goods and commodities in the affected areas, and allow
the government to use appropriate funds for the relief and rehabilitation
efforts and allow the government to provide the much needed services to
affected populations.
Under the proclamation, all departments and
other concerned government agencies are directed to take part in the overall
rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation work.
They are also directed to work hand-in-hand with
the affected local government units, providing or augmenting the basic services
there.
On the other hand, law enforcement agencies with
support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines are to “undertake all necessary
measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary.”
President Aquino said the state of national
calamity will remain in force until he lifts it.
The President also appealed for calm and
sobriety, as he assured that help is on the way to affected communities. PND
(jl)
President Aquino releases P1.1-B for relief
efforts
President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved an
additional P1.1 billion in Quick Response Funds for the Departments of Social
Welfare and Development and Public Works and Highways for the quick recovery of
those areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
In his televised address on Monday evening,
President Aquino also announced the declaration of a state of national
calamity, days after Typhoon Yolanda devastated much of Visayas and southern
Luzon.
“Kasabay nito, idinedeklara po natin ang state
of national calamity upang mapabilis ang mga pagkilos ng pamahalaan para sa
pagsagip, paghahatid ng tulong, at rehabilitasyon ng mga probinsyang sinalanta
ni Yolanda,” the President said.
“Mahalaga rin ito, hindi lamang para
panatilihing kontrolado ang mga presyo ng mga pangunahing produkto at serbisyo
na kakailanganin ng ating mga kakabayan, kundi upang maiwasan din ang
overpricing at hoarding ng mga mahahalagang bilihin,” he added.
He also announced the additional P1.1 billion
Quick Response Funds for DSWD and DPWH.
“Inaprubahan din natin ang kabuuang P1.1 billion
para pandagdag sa Quick Response Funds ng DSWD at DPWH, para sa agarang
pagpapatupad ng mga kinakailangang suporta para sa muling pagbangon ng mga
kababayan nating hinagupit nitong trahedya,” he said.
In his address, the President also thanked the
PAGASA, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Phivolcs, and the DOST for the detailed
information, which allowed local government units to prepare early for Typhoon
Yolanda.
“Ito ang nagbigay-daan para sa iniuulat na
mababang casualty count mula sa ilang mga probinsyang dinaanan din ng bagyo,
tulad ng Oriental at Occidental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Palawan, Aklan, at
Romblon, kung saan maagang nakapaghanda ang lokal na pamahalaan,” he said.
He said the government is now focusing its
efforts to help those areas severely affected by the typhoon, particularly
Leyte and Samar.
He said the DPWH has been clearing roads blocked
by debris and electric posts.
“Ayon na rin sa kahilingan ng mga lokal na
opisyal, nagpadala tayo ng karagdagang 800 mga sundalo at pulis sa Tacloban
upang ibalik ang kaayusan.
May tatlong repacking center po tayong
naglalabas ng di baba sa 55,000 mga family food pack kada araw; inatasan na po
natin si Secretary Abaya ng DOTC upang imando ang pagdadala ng mga relief goods
kung saan ito pinaka-kailangan,” he said.
He said the government has 18.7 billion pesos
from calamity funds, contingency funds and savings that can be used for
rehabilitating Typhoon-affected areas. He also said that there are 22 countries
that have pledged or have given aid.
“Dumarating na rin po ang tulong mula sa ibang
bansa; 22 bansa na po ang nagpanata o nagbigay na ng tulong, kabilang na ang
Indonesia, Amerika, Inglatera, bansang Hapon, Singapore, New Zealand, pati na
rin po ang Hungary,” he said.
“Tumutulong na rin po sa iba’t ibang paraan ang
pribadong sektor upang ibangon ang mga nasalanta, gaya ng sa pagbabalik ng
daloy ng komunikasyon at pati ang pagmimintena ng krudo sa mga apektadong
lugar.” He said.
President Aquino also assured Filipinos of more
aid for typhoon victims. He also called for sobriety.
“Sa mga darating na araw, maaasahan ninyo, lalo
pang papaspas ang ayuda.
Ang panawagan ko lang po: Ang pagiging kalmado,
pagdarasal, pakikisama, at pakikipagtulungan.
Siya ang magpapabangon sa atin mula sa sakunang
ito,” the President said. PND (co)
