Bunkhouses construction start in two worst-hit
towns in Samar
(BASEY, Samar) Three weeks after the onslaught
of super typhoon Yolanda, local government officials here are now focusing on
providing temporary and permanent relocation sites for the displaced families
in this town.
Basey Vice Mayor Paul Charles Adona said the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started the construction of
18 units of bunkhouses in Barangay Canmanila Sitio Bangon here.
"There are 51,000 families displaced by
typhoon Yolanda in our town," Adona said adding that the evacuees are
currently housed in two evacuation centers at Basey Church and Basey Elementary
School.
The bunkhouses, which can accommodate 24
families each, are expected to be completed within two weeks according to DPWH
Eastern Visayas regional director Rolando Asis.
Adona said those who will occupy the bunkhouses
will be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which
earlier said that they will prioritize families with vulnerable members
including babies, pregnant women, elderly and persons with disabilities.
The Vice Mayor said the permanent relocation
houses for displaced families will also be constructed in Barangay Canmanila.
"President Aquino ordered to relocate the
people to safer grounds," he said adding that people who are living near the
coastal areas will be prioritized.
"We will be drafting an ordinance
preventing people to reside 20 meters from the sea wall, which is considered as
a danger zone," Adona noted.
He said the local government has P50-million
standby funds ready to be used for the building of permanent houses.
"We are hoping to finalize the negotiation
with the owner of the property next week so we can start with the
construction," Adona said.
Basey is one of the areas hit hardest by Typhoon
Yolanda, the strongest cyclone to hit the country, which has left at least
5,000 people dead.
Some people here are trying to get back on their
feet by rebuilding the houses that can be repaired but most areas remain a
desolate wasteland.
Meantime, the DPWH is also constructing 18 units
of bunkhouses in the nearby town of Marabut also part of Western Samar. Marabut
was also one of the worst-hit areas by Yolanda here in Samar. PND (jb)
Kandungos Falls provides potable clean water to
5 towns in Samar
(MARABUT, Samar) A small, modest waterfall in a
barangay here has become very useful to residents affected bybysuper typhoon
"Yolanda."
For the past six days, the Kandungos Falls
located in Barangay Malobago here has served as water station of Philippine
National Red Cross, which has been rationing clean drinking water to five towns
in Samar.
The towns are Marabut in Western Samar; Lawaan,
Balangiga, Giporlos and Quinapondan, all in Eastern Samar.
A volunteer from Red Cross said about 50,000
liters of potable water have been delivered everyday to areas affected by the
typhoon.
The Red Cross has provided the equipment to
process raw water coming from Kandungos Falls into safe and clean drinking
water.
The wrath of Typhoon Yolanda is still evident in
this town and its nearby town of Basey, two of the hardest-hit areas in Samar.
While the government has already provided the
basic needs of the people here, residents are now complaining about their
livelihood as coconut trees, one of their main sources of income, were
flattened by the storm surge.
One resident of Basey said the head of their
family was forced to leave town hoping to find work in Manila.
Others, meanwhile, were trying to start anew and
earn money by selling fruits such as ripe mangoes from Davao.
Some are also trying to find alternative
livelihood like fishing, farming and poultry.
Meanwhile, the International Red Cross has set
up makeshift hospitals in Basey to offer medical assistance and free check up
to affected families. PND (jb)
Guiuan residents in Eastern Samar start to
rebuild lives
(GUIUAN, Eastern Samar) Residents of this town
are starting to pick up the pieces three weeks after the devastation wrought by
typhoon "Yolanda," one of the world's strongest storms.
The local government here is focusing on
clearing debris and rehabilitation of damaged houses.
Sangguniang Bayan Secretary and Operations
Center Spokesperson Rectito Melquiades said the clearing operations here were
already 70 percent complete as of Thursday.
"Several private companies were lending us
heavy equipment to clear municipal streets and other areas. We gave priority to
the main streets," Melquiades said.
He said they no longer have problems in
delivering relief goods and reaching all islands in Guiuan as they have cleared
all road blocks already.
There have been at least seven rounds of relief
goods distribution in coastal barangays and four islands of Guiuan such as
Suluan Island, Homonhon, Tubabao and Manicani, the official said.
Citing official report, Melquiades said that the
local relief center in Guiuan has served 14,193 families in 60 barangays.
He said they are trying to limit the
distribution of relief goods due to reports of hoarding and they want people
particularly fishermen and farmers to go back to work.
"We have sufficient supply of relief goods
but we don't want them to just rely on us. They need to go back to work and
provide for their families," he said.
The Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative has also
started repairing toppled electric posts to meet the deadline set by the Energy
department to restore power in entire Eastern Visayas by December 24.
As for the bunkhouses, the Department of Public
Works and Highways has started to build temporary shelters in five towns and
islands in Eastern Samar.
Thirty-five bunkhouses will be built in Guiuan,
three in Victory Island, three in Campoyong, two in Salug, two in Tubabao and
one in Lupok, according to Melquiades.
Several police officers stationed at an outpost
in Barangay Mercedes have also started rebuilding their office.
Some district hospitals are also operational as
Melquiades assured of sufficient supplies of medicines.
Big establishments, however, are not yet
operational as looting remains a concern to residents here.
Melquiades said they are expecting business and
trade to normalize soon as police forces have already been augmented in the
town.
At least 100 people died here due to Typhoon
Yolanda. At least 16 persons died in the small island of Victory alone. PND
(jb)
Aquino orders loan relief to typhoon victims
President Aquino orders more relief for victims
of super typhoon Yolanda, this time in the form of financial assistance, to
help them rebuild their lives.
“The President also ordered the issuance of
Memorandum Circular # 59, directing all government financial institutions to
grant a 6-month moratorium on outstanding loan payments, and extend
interest-free loans to individuals and entities directly affected by the
calamity arising from Typhoon Yolanda,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma
said in his press briefing.
Signed last Nov. 26, Coloma said, the circular
includes the following government financial institutions, GFIs and GOCCs:
1. Landbank of the Philippines;
2. Development Bank of the Philippines;
3. GSIS;
4. SSS;
5. National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation
(PAGIBIG);
6. People’s Credit and Finance Corporation;
7. Philippine Postal Savings Bank;
8. Philippine Retirement Authority;
9. Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee
Corporation; and,
10. United Coconut Planters Bank.
Even as financial assistance and commitments for
ravaged areas continue to pour in, the government has already set in motion
programs to fast-track the rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged areas.
“Government line agencies are on top of the
rehabilitation efforts. The Departments of Public Works and Highways, Energy,
and Education have already started work on restoring basic infrastructure while
National Defense and Social Welfare and Development continue to work on relief
and retrieval operations,” Coloma said. PND
Police chief gives cash aid to cops affected
(PALO, Leyte) Philippine National Police (PNP)
Chief Director General Alan Purisima arrived here Friday to give food and cash
assistance to uniformed personnel affected by super typhoon "Yolanda"
in Leyte.
After visiting the heavily damaged PNP-CIDG
office in Tacloban City, Purisima went to PNP Regional Headquarters in Camp
Kangleon here to lead the distribution of relief assistance to typhoon-stricken
policemen.
The Police Chief handed over initial relief
insurance benefits to families of six policemen who died during the onslaught
of Yolanda amounting to P71,000 each.
He noted that the remaining insurance benefits
for deceased cops with a total amount of 2.3 million are already being
processed.
The policemen were: SPO4 Rogelio Alba of
Tacloban City Police Office; SPO1 Edgar Evina, PO2 Adelfo Lopez, and PO2 Jaffy
Villegas all from Leyte Police Provincial Office; PO3 Gerardo Rojas and SPO4
Saballa from CIDG.
Three out of the 6,271 policemen assigned in the
region have yet to be accounted for.
Purisima also led the distribution of 4,000 food
and non-food items to 3,187 police personnel affected by the calamity. Some
1,500 police uniforms were also distributed including athletic and camouflage
uniforms and shoes.
He also provided P10,000 additional benefits for
the six police casualties, P5,000 each for 16 injured policemen and P3,000 for
453 personnel affected by the typhoon.
Purisima also committed financial assistance
donated by various PNP regional offices and national support units amounting to
P3.2 million with additional pledges of P506,000 to be given to all affected
PNP personnel.
He, likewise, announced the early release of
13th month pay and Christmas bonuses for all police personnel in Eastern
Visayas.
Affected police personnel could also apply for a
special calamity loan of up to P30,000 with zero percent interest and emergency
loan of up to P50,000 with three percent interest, added Purisima.
He said there is P4-million assistance fund for
the entire PNP and Armed Forces personnel in Leyte and Samar.
The Police Chief also flew in three doctors, six
psychologists, five nurses and five aid men from the health service in Manila
to cure all injured personnel and to help address post-traumatic needs of the
affected policemen.
He also assured enough supplies of medicines,
antibiotics, and vitamins for the cops.
Purisima also donated two generator sets, two
units of water purifier systems, computers and scanners for various PNP offices
in Leyte and Samar.
"These may be simple tokens of appreciation
for what you have done in the name of service and commitment to your
responsibility as law enforcers but they symbolize our great concern for
you," he said.
"Let us continue to be united and be
optimistic that there is no storm or obstacle that is so great that could break
our spirit or defeat our collective strength," he added. PND (jb)
President Aquino declares December 2 as special
non-working day in Pasay City in celebration of its 150th Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
December 2, which falls on a Monday, as a special non-working day in the city
of Pasay in celebration of its 150th Foundation Day anniversary.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 685 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on Nov. 18 to give the people of the city the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion.
The city of Pasay is one of the cities and
municipalities that make up Metro Manila.
In 1862, a number of prominent citizens of Pasay
sent a petition to the civil and ecclesiastical authorities asking that they be
allowed to manage their own political and religious affairs. On December 2,
1863 upon the recommendation of Archbishop Gregorio Martinez of Sta. Cruz,
Pasay became a Pueblo. PND (js)
Evidence to be basis of government legal actions
on PDAF, Palace maintains
Evidence will remain the basis of the
government's legal actions on the mess involving the Priority Development
Assistance Fund, Malacañang maintained on Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the administration will stick to President Benigno Aquino III's policy of
going where the evidence leads.
"You know, at least from the President's
point of view, he said, we go where the evidence takes you. We always said
there is no partiality," Valte said at a media briefing.
She said this policy has been echoed by
investigators and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
While Valte said there will always be people who
will interpret things according to how they see it, "these are the
facts."
Earlier, the Department of Justice announced the
second batch of personalities who may face charges over the PDAF mess. PND (jl)
Guiuan town seeks alternative livelihood for
typhoon victims
(GUIUAN, Eastern Samar) The municipality of
Guiuan in Eastern Samar is now focusing on finding alternative livelihood for
displaced residents three weeks after super typhoon "Yolanda"
(Haiyan) battered this town.
While there have been continuous relief and
rehabilitation efforts, municipal disaster risk reduction management operations
center spokesperson Rectito Melquiades said one of their major concerns is the
livelihood of the people.
"Around 80 percent of our 47,087 population
is dependent on fishing while 20 percent is into copra production," said
Melquiades.
Among the proposed alternatives for affected
residents here are seaweed farming and poultry raising, he said.
He related that some 500 seaweed farmers have
been affected by the typhoon but he is optimistic that they could go back on
their feet.
"We encourage farmers and fishermen to go
back to work," Melquiades said.
Damage in seaweed farming was initially pegged
at P1.2 million.
Partial losses in the fishery sector have been
placed at P375.7 million. These include P162 million in motorboats; P4.4 million
for non-motorized boats; P75 million in fish cages/pen; P40 million fish
corals; P90 million in gilnet; P1.1 million in fish pot/trap; and P2 million
for fish shelter or payao.
In livestock, the initial damage was pegged at
P42.678 million covering P20 million for matured swine; P14.044 million for
growing swine; P5.76 million for cattle; P1.584 million for poultry; P750,000
for carabao; and P540,000 for goats.
Partial damage to crops was at P27.681 million
affecting some 5,150 farmers.
Melquiades also said some international
humanitarian organizations have been hiring skilled workers here to assist in
medical missions. Other residents are tapped for clearing works particularly in
hospitals. PND (jb)
Palace maintains government not singling out Pacquiao
in tax row
Malacañang on Friday maintained that it is not
singling out Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny"
Pacquiao in going after his tax deficiencies.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said Pacquiao was given "more than ample" time to comply with the
Bureau of Internal Revenue's requirements.
"This is not to single him out. As
(President Benigno Aquino III) said, why would it be harassment?" she said
at a media briefing in Malacanang.
She added BIR Commissioner Kim Henares had
pointed out Pacquiao was given "more than ample time" to comply with
the BIR's summonses and requests to submit documentation.
Valte said the Palace will process any bid by
Pacquiao for a courtesy call on the President in the same way it processes
other requests.
"That will have to be processed in the same
way we process all the requests," she said. PND (jl)
President Aquino appoints new judges in the
lower courts
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new judges in the lower courts, a Palace official said on Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the
Chief Executive appointed four regional trial court (RTC) judges on November
22.
The President appointed Judge Maria Ligaya V.
Itliong-Rivera as presiding judge of Baguio City, Benguet RTC Branch 5; Judge
Ivan Kim B. Morales as presiding judge of Baguio City, Benguet RTC Branch 59;
Judge Glenda Ching Go as presiding judge of Talisay City, Cebu RTC Branch 65
and Judge Caroline Rojas Jaucian as presiding judge of San Fernando, La Union
RTC Branch 26 .
The other presidential appointees are the
following:
- Judge Francisco E. Torres Jr. as presiding
judge of Bato-San Miguel, Catanduanes 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC)
- Judge Bernadette Balangitan Badecao as
presiding judge of Sto. Tomas, La Union Municipal Trial Court (MTC)
- Judge Maria Paz I. Rivera-Basangan as presiding
judge of Caba, La Union MTC
- Judge Melita Amylesha G. Delson-Macaraeg as
presiding judge of Kapangan-Kibungan, Benguet 1st MCTC
- Judge Homer Jay D. Ragonjan as presiding judge
of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur MTC and
- Judge Jaime D. Bugain as presiding judge of
Santiago-San Esteban, Ilocos Sur 6th MCTC. PND (js)
Megan Young visits typhoon-stricken areas in
Eastern Visayas
(TACLOBAN, Leyte) Miss World 2013 Megan Young
visited the victims of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) in this city
and the municipality of Basey in Samar on Friday.
In an interview with the 23-year-old beauty
queen, she said she flew to Leyte and Samar to personally determine the needs
of the people affected by Yolanda, one of the strongest storms to hit the
country.
"Nandito kami para makita kung ano ang
kailangan pang gawin. Gusto namin silang alagaan. We care for them, mga
kababayan natin sila," she said.
Megan lauded the strength of the people affected
by the calamity saying that she will try her best to attend to their needs.
She also noted the efforts of volunteers who
have been helping typhoon survivors rebuild their lives.
"I am deeply saddened by what happened
here...We want to know their immediate needs especially the children who lost
both parents," she said in Filipino.
Young, together with Miss World Philippines
Chairperson and CEO Cory Quirino and Philippine Red Cross Chair Richard Gordon,
visited the evacuees at Redemptorist Church in Tacloban, which serves as
temporary shelter to 1,040 evacuees.
She also visited the Our Lady of Assumption in
Tanauan, Leyte where she distributed kitchen set, blankets, tarpaulins and food
provided by Red Cross to 500 families affected by the calamity.
Gordon said he will be lending eight payloaders
to Tanauan for the clearing operations.
Young also visited the makeshift hospital in
Basey, Samar set up by the International Red Cross offering free medical services
to typhoon victims.
Young, the first ever Filipina Miss World
winner, earlier pledged to use the proceeds from Miss World’s recent
fundraising efforts in the United States to help typhoon victims.
She toured several states in the US and other
countries such as Indonesia to help raise funds for Yolanda survivors in
Eastern Visayas. PND (jb)
Aquino leads Bonifacio’s 150th birth anniversary
celebration in Caloocan City
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead
Saturday, November 30, the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres
Bonifacio at the Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City
The President is expected to be given full
military honors upon his arrival. After that, he will lead the flag raising
ceremony and then the wreath laying rites at the Bonifacio monument.
The President will deliver an address during the
event.
Joining him will be Education Secretary Armin
Luistro, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, National Historical Commission of the
Philippines Chairperson Ma. Sereno Diokno, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan,
and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice.
In a statement released on Friday, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said this year’s celebration also
commemorates the 80th anniversary of the unveiling of the Andres Bonifacio
monument, a national landmark designed by National Artist for Sculpture
Guillermo Tolentino.
In culmination of its year-long tribute to
Andres Bonifacio, the Presidential Museum and Library will launch Saturday its
online commemoration, featuring a comprehensive essay, videos, and rare
glimpses of Tolentino’s masterpiece, Valte said.
“On the 150th year since the birth of the man it
honors, we trace the history of the Bonifacio monument and the legacy it has
left—and, in effect, the role Andres Bonifacio has played in securing
Philippine independence and in shaping our national narrative,” she said.
Bonifacio, called the Father of the Philippine
Revolution, was born on November 30, 1863 in Tondo, Manila. He was the founder
of the Katipunan movement, that sought Philippine independence from Spain’s
colonial rule. He died on May 10, 1897 in Cavite. PND (as)
President Aquino appoints new officials in
various government agencies
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials of various government agencies, a Palace official said on Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced the appointments during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Friday.
The presidential appointees are the following:
- Ismael Tabije as member, representing the Rice
and Corn Sector, Board of Directors, National Irrigation Administration.
- Cesar Cassion as Acting Director III of the
Department of Health (DOH)
- Marlyn Convocar as Acting Director IV of DOH
- Jose C. Reaño as Acting Undersecretary of
Department of Agriculture
- Jesus Nathaniel Martin Gonzales as Acting
Director III of Department of Finance
- Juan Miguel Cuna as Director IV of
Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
- Emmanuel Dooc as Insurance Commissioner,
Insurance Commission, Department of Finance (reappointed)
- Graciela Cayton as Acting Executive Director
III, National Book Development Board, Department of Education
- Jude Romano as Director IV of the Department
of Finance
- Celia Elumba as Acting Director IV, Philippine
Textile Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology.
- Katheryn May Penaco-Rojas, Mark Roland Estepa
and Alejandro Daguiso as Prosecutors II of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Atty. Aileen Marie Gutierrez as Prosecutor IV
(City Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Muntinlupa City, National
Prosecution Office, DOJ
- Atty. Rainier Sarol as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Tabuk City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ
- Atty. Bien Patulay as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Batangas City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ
- Atty. Ruvi Jean Cariño as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor- Naga City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ. PND (js)
