President Aquino assures enough funds to help
Yolanda victims
President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday evening
reassured the public that government has enough funds to help those affected by
Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The President said the funds include some P16
billion in savings, P6 billion from the President's Social Fund, and P1 billion
from the calamity and contingency funds.
"And yung sa reconstruction phase naman (As
for the reconstruction phase), most of that would occur next year wherein the
new budget hopefully will have been approved and there will be new funding for
the rehabilitation," he said after getting a briefing on the situation at
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in
Camp Aguinaldo.
On the other hand, the President said the
government can draw from the Quick Response Funds of agencies such as the
Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).
He noted that the bulk of the DPWH's work for
now is clearing roads.
"At isama ko na rin pala. Sinasabi ng DOST,
DENR, na parang itong event na 'Yolanda' ay tapos na,” he added.
Meanwhile the President reiterated that the
government's priority now is to restore power and communications to affected
areas.
He said the DPWH will clear roads to facilitate
relief efforts, while the DSWD and agencies like the National Food Authority go
full blast in repacking operations.
For their part, the military's C-130 planes and
seacraft are going all-out in bringing relief goods to affected areas.
The President also cited the Armed Forces of the
Philippines for conducting aerial surveys despite dangerous weather conditions.
He said the Department of Science and Technology
had said the weather at the time was dangerous, especially for helicopters.
"But, to the credit more of our men in
uniform, and the Air Force helicopters have been flying, conducting aerial
surveys and also delivering relief to areas that are presently
inaccessible," the President said. PND (jl)
President Aquino says international community
helping Yolanda victims
The international community is pitching in to
help victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), President Benigno S. Aquino III
said Saturday evening.
The President said the offers include those from
Israel and New Zealand, with the prospective aid ranging from personnel to
mobile clinics.
"Ang pagkaintindi ko, ang nag-offer na
Israel. (Foreign Affairs) Secretary del Rosario tells us na teams actually,
personnel ang inaalok ng Israel (From what I understand, Israel offered
personnel)," the President said after getting a briefing on the situation
at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in
Camp Aguinaldo.
These may include rescue teams, humanitarian
missions, and medical emergency missions, he added.
The President said the offer was coursed through
the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, who he said was "relaying
direct instructions" from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Also, President Aquino said Health Secretary
Enrique Ona told him New Zealand may send a mobile hospital.
This will complement a similar facility the
Philippine government already has, he said.
"There are other countries that have
already pledged their personnel, equipment and assistance," the President
said.
Typhoon 'Yolanda' lashed the Philippines Friday
before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday.
As of Saturday evening, the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 138 had been left dead in
Yolanda's wake. PND (jl)
President Aquino orders agencies to focus on
post-Yolanda work
With Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) having
exited the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Saturday evening
instructed government agencies to focus on providing those affected with food,
water and shelter.
But the President also said he wants some local
government units to explain their seeming lack of preparation for Super Typhoon
Yolanda.
"So actually the last instruction to this
meeting was: Nalagpasan natin yung hagupit ng bagyo; tragedy naman kung yung
post, doon tayo talagang pumalpak (My last instruction to the agencies
concerned after the meeting was that we have survived the worst of Yolanda. It
would be a tragedy if many people died because we failed to provide them with
care)," the President said after getting a briefing on the situation at
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in
Camp Aguinaldo.
He said the priorities for those affected
include food, water and shelter to protect them from the elements.
Those exposed to the elements run the risk of
getting diseases, he noted. "Ayaw naman nating dumami pa ang casualties
dito (We don't want casualties to increase)," the President said.
For now, President Aquino said the Department of
Public Works and Highways is coordinating with local government units to
identify land for constructing bunkhouses that will serve as temporary
shelters.
This is aside from clearing roads that are
blocked by debris, a situation that hampers the transport of relief goods.
On the other hand, the Department of Health is
assessing health risks, including the lack of clean drinking water, the
President added.
Also, he said the DOH is on the lookout for
cases of upper respiratory infections, diarrhea, and injuries that have to be
treated right away.
The Department of Science and Technology is
tracing the path of Yolanda to determine which areas may have been affected, so
the concerned local officials can be contacted.
Meanwhile, the President said some LGUs that
failed to prepare properly may have to explain especially since he is taking
issue with any casualty.
He reminded LGUs that they are the first
responders, with the national government coming in to replenish and to augment
whatever the LGUs lack.
"They will have to explain. You have all
the data needed. And as you know, any casualty is an issue with me," the
President said. PND (jl)
President Aquino visits 'Yolanda' hardest-hit
areas
President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday went to
some areas hit hardest by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to personally inspect
the extent of the damage caused by the cyclone.
In her briefing over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the President’s itinerary included Tacloban City in Leyte and Roxas City
in Capiz.
“Umalis po ang Pangulong Aquino ng 8:40 ng
umaga, mula sa Villamor Air Base. Patungo po ang Pangulo sa Tacloban City sa
Leyte at papunta rin po siya ng Roxas City sa Capiz para naman po tingnan yung
naging lawak po ng naging pinsala nitong typhoon 'Yolanda' (The President’s
plane left Villamor Air Base at 8:40 a.m. He was scheduled to be in Tacloban
City in Leyte and Roxas City in Capiz, to see for himself the devastation
caused by 'Yolanda'),” she said.
She said President Aquino was also scheduled to
get briefings in both Tacloban and Roxas Cities on the efforts made by
concerned government agencies to assist those affected by 'Yolanda.'
'Yolanda' battered parts of the country on
Friday, making landfall six times before exiting the Philippine area of
responsibility on Saturday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council said that as of Sunday morning, 151 were confirmed dead
while 982,252 families or 4,459,468 people in 1,741 villages in 343 towns and
39 cities in 36 provinces were affected.
Joining the President are Cabinet members
including Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Corazon Soliman (social
welfare), Manuel Roxas II (interior), Jericho Petilla (energy), Rogelio Singson
(public works) and Joseph Emilio Abaya (transportation), and Secretary to the
Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras.
Also, Valte said that Philippine National Police
chief Director General Alan Purisima led a batch of police personnel to
Tacloban City to maintain peace and order, amid reports of looting and
lawlessness there.
“It’s important at this point in time, hindi
lang ang pagtulong at pagbigay ng relief sa mga kababayan natin, it’s also
important to keep the peace in these areas (It’s important at this time to not
just give relief to our fellow Filipinos. It’s also important to keep the peace
in these areas),” she said.
Valte pointed out that the Armed Forces of the
Philippines Public Affairs Office reported another special flight to Tacloban
carried medical volunteers, telecom technicians and an air traffic controller.
Valte reiterated the President Aquino wants
power and communications restored soonest, with telecommunications companies
assuring they are doing restoration work as quickly as they can. PND (jl)
Palace welcomes Ariella Arida's 'Miss Universe'
third runner-up finish in Moscow, Russia, Donaire's win in Texas, USA
Malacañang on Sunday welcomed the third
runner-up finish of Ariella Arida in this year’s Miss Universe beauty pageant
in Moscow, Russia and the victory of Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire Jr. over Vic
Darchinyan in Texas, USA.
In a briefing over goverment-run radio station
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said these
two pieces of good news are a much-needed shot in the arm for Filipinos going
through so much in the aftermath of the recent calamities.
“We appreciate the efforts to bring a little bit
of a smile to the faces of countrymen who are going through so much in the
aftermath of the typhoon,” she said.
Arida and Donaire had dedicated their efforts to
Filipinos affected by Super Typhoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan), with Donaire also
dedicating his fight to the victims of last month’s magnitude-7.2 quake.
“I think any sort of positive news to us is very
welcome at this point,” Valte said as she congratulated the two for bringing
honor to the Philippines especially in these trying times.
Meanwhile, Valte agreed with observations that
Filipinos are a hardy race, saying there is no doubt Filipinos will get up and
rise again.
“We have no doubt that our citizens will get up
and rise again. We have no doubt about it. We’ve seen that in the past. No
matter how heavy the calamity we always manage to pick ourselves up and get
back to our normal lives,” she said. PND (jl)
Palace reassures government ready to help OFWs
in Saudi Arabia
The government on Sunday reassured overseas
Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia it is ready to help them amid an ongoing
crackdown there on illegal workers.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
gave the reassurance amid reports that 15 OFWs had been arrested by authorities
on the sixth day of the crackdown.
“If that is true, our fellow workers in the
(Philippine) Embassy would be more than ready to render the assistance that is
necessary,” Valte said on government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
A migrant workers’ group earlier claimed 15
undocumented OFWs were arrested.
Saudi authorities last Monday started cracking
down on illegal workers who failed to correct their status or leave the Kingdom
before the Nov. 3 deadline. PND (jl)
President Aquino visits Typhoon-hit Roxas City
ROXAS CITY, Capiz) President Benigno S. Aquino
III on Sunday visited Roxas City following the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan), the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Upon his arrival at 4 p.m., the President went
straight to Barangay Culasi and led the distribution of relief goods at the
barangay's covered court to some 478 families or around 2,400 evacuees
temporarily housed at the nearby Culasi Elementary School.
The Chief Executive was accompanied by Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas
II, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Public Work and Highways Secretary
Rogelio Singson, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Transportation and Communications
Secretary Emilio Abaya, and Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras.
Local government officials were also present
namely Capiz Governor Victor Tanco Sr., Vice Governor Evan Contreras, Roxas
City Mayor Alan Celino, Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas and several city councilors.
Culasi was one of the areas here that was badly
damaged by the typhoon, leaving at least 100 people dead in various provinces
in the Visayas including Leyte and Samar.
As of 7 a.m., the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Council recorded 12 casualties, 30 injured, and 10 missing
in the province of Capiz.
While on his way to Culasi, the President
witnessed the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in this city where he saw toppled
electric posts and fallen trees blocking the roads, wrecked cars, and heavily
damaged houses mostly those made of lightweight materials.
The power lines here are still cut and the
communication lines are not yet fully restored as some cell sites were toppled
by the powerful winds brought about by the typhoon.
President Aquino stressed the need for immediate
restoration of power and communication here.
The President, meanwhile, assured that the
government has enough funds to provide necessary assistance for the people of
Roxas City.
He earlier said that the funds to restore and
rehabilitate Eastern Visayas will come from various funding sources such as
calamity fund, contingency fund, lump sum fund, Presidential Social Funds and
even the Quick Response Funds of various agencies such as the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), among others.
The Chief Executive said the government has some
P16-billion in savings that can assist and help those affected by the recent
calamities in rebuilding their lives.
Prior to his visit here, President Aquino also
inspected some areas in worst-hit Tacloban City in Leyte where he led the
distribution of relief goods to hundreds of evacuees displaced by the typhoon.
The President was assisted by the DSWD during
the distribution of relief goods.
President Aquino earlier reported some pledges
from the international community such as Israel and New Zealand following the
devastating typhoon. PND (jb)
Palace Exec: Tacloban City now accessible by
land
After being hit hard by Super Typhoon 'Yolanda'
(Haiyan), Tacloban City is now accessible by land, a Malacañang official said
Sunday.
Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras
said at a media briefing in Roxas City in Capiz that Tacloban City can now be
reached via the San Juanico Bridge through southern Luzon.
“I hope all of you, please let the rest of the
country know that Tacloban is now accessible through the road from southern
Luzon,” Almendras told media representatives at the briefing.
He added Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio
Abaya will talk to representatives of bus companies when he returns to Manila
to schedule trips to Tacloban City.
Almendras and Abaya were among the Cabinet
members who accompanied President Benigno Aquino III to 'Yolanda'-hit areas to
inspect the extent of the damage.
On the other hand, Almendras said there is a
need to step up the repacking of relief goods from Cebu, which he said is the
closest logistics center to support the needs of Tacloban.
Also, he expressed optimism the
telecommunications situation in Tacloban City will “continue to improve,” now
that telecommunications equipment are being brought in.
Tacloban City was one of the areas hit hard by
'Yolanda,' which lashed parts of Visayas and Luzon last Friday before exiting
the Philippine area of responsibility.
Meanwhile, Almendras said the northern part of
Samar was not adversely affected by the typhoon, adding it was the southeast
part that was affected.
"The problem of Samar is going to be on the
southeast portion. But Borongan is okay also, so it is between Borongan all the
way down to Guiuan where we are presently trying to operate," he said.
Also, Almendras said the government learned much
from the experience with Tropical Cyclone Pablo, particularly the need to have
forward command centers for rescue, relief and eventual rehabilitation.
He said Roxas City was selected as the forward
command center for Western Visayas. From that command center, he said the
police, military and other government agencies will be working out of Roxas
City.
"From here, we want to reach to all the
other areas that are affected," he said.
He added Iloilo City has been designated as a
logistics center from where goods and resources may be sent to Roxas City. For
now, he said they are rushing the repacking of relief goods.
Almendras also said the government’s immediate
concern is still on those who survived the storm surges.
He said that while there are still many who are
missing, there is still hope since some had survived the waves when the water
hit the airport in Tacloban City. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Armored vehicles, added
security troops to foil looting in Tacloban
Armored vehicles and government security forces
are now in place in Tacloban City to deter looting and lawlessness following
the destruction caused by Super Typhoon 'Yolanda' (Haiyan), President Benigno
Aquino III said Sunday.
In an interview, the President said he expects
the reinforcements to restore peace and order in the city starting Sunday
evening.
"So meron na tayong itinalagang mga 300
kapulisan at kasundaluhan na handang pumalit at ibalik ang kaayusan dito.
Mamayang gabi, may darating na mga armored vehicle at saka ang ating
Sandatahang Lakas para magpakita nga ng lakas ng estado at matigil iyong mga
pasimuno nitong looting na ito (So now we have 300 police and military
personnel who will restore order. Tonight, there will be armored vehicles and
the Armed Forces to show the strength of the state and deter further
looting)," he said.
Incidents of looting and lawlessness had been
noted since Tacloban City was devastated by Yolanda, which exited the
Philippine area of responsibility Saturday.
Earlier Sunday, Philippine National Police chief
Director General Alan Purisima led a batch of police personnel in flying to
Tacloban City to maintain peace and order there.
Also, the President cited initial reports
reaching him showing the looting was partly due to the absence of police
personnel in the city after Yolanda's onslaught.
Meanwhile, the President said the national
government is considering temporarily putting in people to fill up some local
government posts that he said were "vacated suddenly." PND (jl)
