Sunday 10 November 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, November 9, 2013

President Aquino orders concerned agencies to intensify search, rescue, relief operations to make sure aid reaches 'Yolanda' victims

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered all concerned government agencies to intensify search-and-rescue operations and make sure aid reaches people affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

In an interview on People's Television 4, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said their top concern is people's lives and safety.

"Sa ngayon, ang prayoridad ay ang buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan. Kaya pag-iibayuhin ang search and rescue and relief operations dahil nga sa pangamba na mayroon pang hindi natutunton na mga casualties dahil sa mga lugar kung saan ay walang kuryente at walang komunikasyon. (For now, our priority is the lives and safety of people. That is why search, rescue and relief operations are intensified. We want to make sure we don't miss anyone, especially those in isolated areas where power and communications are cut off)," Coloma said.

He said President Aquino received an update from Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin (defense) and Manuel Roxas II (interior), who were sent to Tacloban City in Leyte.

The two secretaries reported heavy damage there, along with disruptions in power and communications services.

Coloma said President Aquino ordered the two to intensify the search, rescue and relief operations on the ground, and ensure no area will be cut off.

He added the President instructed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista to ensure sufficient logistical support.

On the other hand, he said the President instructed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to release P365 million to the Philippine Air Force for maintenance and lubricants for planes.

Coloma also said President Aquino ordered Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo to "retrace the storm path" and determine areas of greatest impact.

Montejo was also instructed to recommend concrete solutions to address the problem of disrupted communications during calamities.

"Kaya ang atas sa DOST is to propose a secure, all-weather communication system na puwedeng magamit para sa mga kalamidad na ating kinahaharap na madalas sa buong taon (The President wants the DOST to propose a secure, all-weather communication system that can be used during calamities)," he said.

Coloma said President Aquino ordered Secretaries Rogelio Singson (public works) and Corazon Soliman (social welfare) to make sure relief goods, especially food, reaches the victims.

Singson was particularly instructed to make sure roadblocks are removed.

Meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said President Aquino expects power and communications to be restored in affected areas soonest.

“Ang instruction ng Pangulo, unahin ang biktima. Ito ang prayoridad ng kanyang naging utos ... Ang una ay abutin ang lahat na lugar na naapektuhan. Pangalawa, siguraduhin na maibalik kuryente at komunikasyon (President Aquino’s instructions were to prioritize the victims. First, he wants aid to reach all those affected. Second, he wants to make sure power and communications are restored),” Valte said Saturday on government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

She said two C-130 planes had left for Tacloban City early Saturday. The planes are loaded with AFP medical teams, 12,000 pounds of relief goods, and power generators, communications equipment and water purifiers.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also transported telecommunications equipment to the Visayas.

“Nakikipag-coordinate tayo sa tatlong telecommunication companies, nag-assure sila they are doing their best to restore signals in the area (We are also coordinating with the three telecommunications companies. They assured us they are doing their best to restore signals in the area),” Valte said.

Meanwhile, Valte said the Philippine government thanks US Secretary of State John Kerry for his statement of sympathy and solidarity with Filipinos amid Typhoon Yolanda’s destruction.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kaibigan natin na nagpapahayag ng kanilang kakayanang tumulong sa ating mga kababayang nasalanta (We thank our friend who has expressed readiness to help our fellow Filipinos who were affected),” she said. PND (jl)


Coloma to head Phl delegation to UNESCO General Conference meeting

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. will lead a Philippine delegation to France this coming week for meetings of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference.

The Philippine delegation will take part in meetings of the communication and information sector in the 37th session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Nov. 12 and 13.

The meetings will focus on sustaining peace and development through freedom of expression and access to knowledge.

Coloma is vice-chair of the governing council on UNESCO's Information for All Programme. He will speak at the opening of the conference on pioneering programs conducted by the Philippines as the lead country in the promotion of media and information literacy.

He will also discuss the Philippine government's program for creating an enabling environment for press freedom and safety of journalism practitioners.

The Information for All Programme is an intergovernmental program created in 2000.

Through it, the world's governments pledged to harness new opportunities of the information age to use better access to information to create equitable societies.

It seeks to promote international reflection and debate on the ethical, legal and societal challenges of the information society; promote access to information in the public domain through the organization, digitization and preservation of information; and support training, continuing education and lifelong learning in the fields of communication, information and informatics.

Also, it aims to support the production of local content and foster the availability of indigenous knowledge through basic literacy and ICT literacy training; promote the use of international standards and best practices in communication, information and informatics in UNESCO's fields of competence; and promote information and knowledge networking at local, national, regional and international levels. PND (jl)


Government has enough resources to rebuild Leyte, says Palace

Malacanang made an assurance on Saturday that the government has enough resources to rehabilitate damaged infrastructures in Leyte and other areas following the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda this week.

Typhoon Yolanda, considered by experts as super typhoon, has damaged many infrastructures in Leyte including its airport.

In a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government has enough resources to help rebuild the province.

“Handa naman tayo. Clearing operations ngayon sa Tacloban; sa Tacloban airport mismo ay ongoing,” Valte said.

“At handa naman din tayong magpaluwal ng pondo kung ano iyong kakailanganin for rehabilitation.”

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas have reported to President Aquino the heavy property damage in Leyte not only its airport but also other infrastructures.

The government is also ready to respond to typhoon victims in Iloilo, she said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide the assistance such as food and temporary shelters to affected families.


“Meron tayong programa ‘yung tinatawag nating ‘Core Shelter Assistance’ para naman doon sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo na talagang either partially damaged iyong mga bahay or totally damaged,” she said. PND (as)