PGMA underscores need for preemptive evacuation to avoid loss of lives
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today concerned government agencies to identify danger zones and prepare to implement preemptive evacuation to save lives in future disasters such the recent tropical storm “Ondoy” that left 240 dead.
“Somebody must be in charge of designating the areas,” the President stressed at the Cabinet meeting held at
The President said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) must coordinate with Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils to effect the preemptive evacuation. She added barangay captains should make sure that people do not build houses on river banks.
She issued the order as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said that another tropical depression is likely to bring more rains on Thursday.
The new tropical depression may hit Northern Luzon before moving in the direction of
The military was also directed to pre-position equipment for rescue operation in disaster-prone areas.
PGMA orders Cabinet members, gov’t agencies to speed-up relief and rehabilitation of typhoon victims
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains hands-on in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of victims of tropical storm “Ondoy.”
In today’s cabinet meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) office at
The President issued several directives to ensure the security, health, sanitation and cleanliness in the typhoon–stricken areas and to help typhoon victims go back to normal life.
It was noted that within the more than 600 evacuation centers, there is a strong possibility that health and sanitation problems will occur. Thus, the President ordered the Department of Health to lead in this endeavor by providing adequate health services.
The President also ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to mobilize barangay officials to look after the cleanliness of the evacuation centers in their area of responsibility.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque volunteered to hire 500 persons under the President’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to help in the clean –up of evacuation centers, waterways and drainage systems.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Emmanuel Angeles called on medical schools to deploy their nursing and medical students to help.
He said ROTC cadets and students taking up the National Service Training Program (NSTP) will be deployed to help in the clean-up of streets and schools.
President Arroyo is also set to issue an executive order that will declare a “Clean –up Day” within the week so everyone can help in the clean-up operations. This will be a non-working holiday.
The President also ordered the Philippine National Police to deploy personnel in abandoned areas to avoid looters from taking advantage of the situation.
Noting that many vehicles were damaged by the typhoon, the President ordered Trade Secretary Peter Favila to make representations with car companies, repair /service shops not to take advantage of the situation to increase their prices.
CHED suspends classes in tertiary level in NCR, Region IV-A, some areas in Region III until Friday
”All classes in tertiary level both private and public in Metro Manila and other affected areas like Region IV-A and other areas in Region III are suspended until Friday,” Angeles said.
There are about 699,474 students enrolled in some 302 colleges and universities in Metro Manila.
At the same time, Angeles ordered school administrators, especially medical and nursing schools to mobilize their personnel and resources to help in the on-going relief efforts to typhoon victims.
“I’m appealing to all colleges and universities from Metro Manila and unaffected areas to send medical mission to these areas identified by the National Disaster Coordinating Council as high priority,” Angeles said.
“Medical students can attend the children and elderly people who are in need of immediate medical attention. We need to help them,” he added.
Angeles also ordered the mobilization of the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC) and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) to help in the clean-up drive and the relief efforts.
“I have already told the school administrators to mobilize their students who are taking up ROTC and NSTP courses to assist local authorities in the relief and clean-up drive,” he said.
State universities and colleges (SUCs) in the affected areas, he said are also ready to receive evacuees.
PAL airlifts for free donations for "Ondoy" victims
MANILA, Sept. 29 -- The national carrier, Philippines Airlines (PAL), will airlift for free all relief donations intended for victims of typhoon "Ondoy."
All provincial PAL stations will load on flights bound for
To maximize the cargo load of the aircraft, PAL station heads will be verifying and limiting the contents of the donation boxes to items of value and use, and exclude such donations as expired food and medicines, water, rice (due to weight considerations) and unusable stuff.
Complete information of the consignee organization must be supplied with the cargo box/container inscribed with "care of the PAL Foundation".
Individual donations for private or personal families will not be accommodated.
Meanwhile, PAL passengers whose flight were affected by typhoon "Ondoy" will not be charged any penalties when rebooking for the next available flights.
PAL ticket holders with confirmed bookings from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4, 2009 will have all penalties waived when rebooking. (PNA)
