President Aquino monitors Typhoon Glenda
aftermath, gov't focuses on power restoration, welfare of evacuees
Malacanang on Wednesday said the government is
prioritizing power restoration and the health and welfare of evacuees as
Typhoon Glenda (international codename Rammasun) pummeled Metro Manila, its
nearby provinces and the Bicol region.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
President Benigno Aquino III is on top of the situation as he is constantly
getting updates from concerned government officials, who are on the ground to
attend to the typhoon’s aftermath.
“Our priorities at this point is the health and
welfare of evacuees, and the return of power and communications to communities.
As developments arise and services are restored, rest assured the public will
be kept informed,” Lacierda said.
He said the government has started clearing
operations and assessment of the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon.
“The President is monitoring the situation as
the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Department of Public
Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare
and Development, with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of
the Philippines, attend to the evacuees, the surveying of vital structures, and
the clearing of roads,” Lacierda said.
He asked for the cooperation and assistance of
the public especially on clearing the roads as strong winds left several
toppled trees and piles of leaves.
Secretary Lacierda said initial reports
indicated that many areas “achieved their zero casualty goals.” Recent news
reports said that at least 10 people have been reported killed due to the
typhoon.
“We ask the public to continue monitoring media
and online resources to keep updated on the weather and advisories concerning
cleanup and restoring services,” said Lacierda.
“As we begin the work of restoring services and
repairing the damage caused by typhoon Glenda, let us take stock of the manner
in which the public, typhoons he local and national government agencies worked
together to ensure preparations were in place, and information disseminated
effectively and in a timely manner, during the approach and progress of the
storm,” he added.
Before the onslaught of typhoon Glenda,
President Aquino on Tuesday met concerned government officials at the NDRRMC
office in Camp Aguinaldo ordering them to “minimize the casualties and the
hardship of our people.”
He ensured that all agencies are on full alert
and ready to respond to the needs of the people as the typhoon hits Metro
Manila, central and southern Luzon, and the Bicol Region.
Some parts of Metro Manila and its nearby
provinces are currently experiencing power interruption. The Manila Electric
Co. (Meralco) earlier said that about 90 percent of its franchise area have no
electricity as the typhoon downed the transmission lines of the Luzon grid.
Typhoon Glenda is expected to exit the
Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday (July 17). PND (jb)
