DISASTER RESPONSE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT / HAGONOY RECOVERING FROM FLOODS
[PHOTO - Volunteers pack rice and other food items to be distributed to the victims of typhoons 'Pedring' and 'Quiel' inside the Department of Social Welfare and Development warehouse in Parañaque City yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO)]
MANILA, OCTOBER 4, 2011 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - Philippines - President Aquino yesterday conceded that the government's disaster response needs much improvement, even as he expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units.
Meanwhile, the National Power Corp. (Napocor) denied allegations that the release of water from dams caused the flooding in areas affected by typhoon "Pedring."
Aquino said one possible improvement that can be made is how to convince residents to leave in times of danger so as to lessen the problem of government and reduce the risk for rescue teams in the process.
He said the government will be coming up with a "rehabilitation plan" for all the victims of typhoons Pedring and "Quiel" whose provinces are still submerged in floodwaters, which he will visit in the coming days.
The President told Palace reporters that he met with members of his Cabinet yesterday afternoon to find ways to help normalize the situation in affected areas and help the victims.
Among the things that were discussed are the repair of damaged roads, the 100 percent resumption of power, availability of fuel in affected areas, concerns regarding agriculture and how to help farmers cope with their problems.
Aquino said no less than the media observed the big difference between the previous administration and his government when it comes to disaster preparedness.
He said he is in constant communication with Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy and Vice Gov. Rodito Albano, who have been giving him updates regarding typhoon Quiel.
The same is true with Rep. Brawner Baguilat of Ifugao province.
"So, I'm trying to get in touch with all of the areas, talk to their leaders, and that's what we will prioritize," the President said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President wants concerned government agencies involved in disaster response to improve and strictly implement evacuation warnings among potential victims to save lives and lessen incidents of people getting stranded in calamity-stricken areas.
"The President wants the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce the forced evacuation for the primary reason that he wants the evacuees to be saved – for their own security," Lacierda said.
He added that in order to ensure the peace of mind of evacuees on the safety of their properties, the President has directed the PNP to deploy personnel the soonest in affected areas.
"That's a two-pronged approach so that the people will not be going back to their areas where there's already flooding in order to protect their belongings," he said.
Napocor denies causing flood
Napocor, emphasizing that one of the functions of a dam is to mitigate floods, said it strictly followed established dam water release protocols during the onslaught of the typhoon, noting that it was the same protocol that had been used and implemented during typhoon season when the water level in Angat Dam is expected to rise.
"The release of water from Angat Dam is a decision that rests not solely on Napocor. It is a decision based on several contributory factors, primary of which are the weather and flood forecasts coming from the weather bureau. It is also dictated by standards and regulations set by the regulatory agency, specifically on the water levels that should be maintained in the dam," Napocor said.
As of 4 p.m., Sept. 30, all gates in Angat Dam were closed. Inflow was 157 cms. Outflow through turbine discharge was 75 cms. Dam elevation was 213.08 masl (meters above sea level).
"The gates were closed to reduce the dam's contribution to downstream flooding. The Angat River Basin or watershed has an area of 586 sq.km., which only constitute about five percent of the total area of the Pampanga River Basin or watershed that measures some 10,540 sq.km. Thus, it could not have caused the floodings now being experienced by areas in Bulacan," Napocor said.
At the height of typhoon Pedring, Napocor started releasing excess water from its Angat reservoir, with an initial gate opening of 1 meter and an equivalent discharge of 120 cms.
"Dam Water Release Protocol dictates that once water level in Angat Dam reaches above 210 masl, the excess water should be discharged," Napocor said, adding that before the actual release was made, ample warnings, as dictated by the protocol, were undertaken.
It said gate openings were eventually increased as typhoon Pedring lashed through Northern Luzon and until it was out of the Philippine area of responsibility.
However, in Pangasinan, the potential threat of an inbound typhoon caused the San Roque Power Corp. to open the two gates at the spillway of San Roque Dam in the town of San Manuel.
"Release will be maintained as it is due to the potential threat of typhoon 'Ramon' and not to add to the inflow of water from Tarlac affecting the downstream areas," Tom Valdez, vice president of San Roque Power Corp., told The STAR.
Sen. Loren Legarda said the heavy flooding in several towns of Bulacan could have been prevented had the operator of Angat Dam and other concerned government agencies taken the necessary precautionary measures before the arrival of typhoon Pedring last week.
Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change, blamed the release of water from Angat Dam as the reason why Bulacan towns were submerged and continue to be under a state of calamity.
During the briefing by the NDRRMC to the congressional oversight committee on disaster risk reduction and management held at the Senate yesterday, Legarda said there was a clear lack of coordination between Napocor, as the operator of Angat Dam, and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) as far as releasing water is concerned.
Legarda noted that PAGASA gave an early forecast about typhoon Pedring so Napocor should have prepared for its arrival by implementing an early release of water from Angat Dam.
DOTC eyes new choppers for PCG
As this developed, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the agency is now in the process of acquiring seven maritime disaster response helicopters from Germany worth P5.6 billion to bolster the search and rescue capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Roxas said two of the seven choppers are slated for acquisition this year while the rest will be purchased next year.
"Aside from ensuring safety of all maritime vessels sailing in our seas, we also ordered the PCG to be ready in conducting evacuation operations for people stranded during times of inland flooding," Roxas said.
An overseas development assistance (ODA) loan from the World Bank will be tapped to buy the helicopters under a government-to-government procurement arrangement.
Roxas said that the ODA was a "good complement" to the current public-private-partnership (PPP) program in fast-tracking projects lined up by the government.
"The configuration of the aircraft is based on the requirements of the PCG in their rescue of flood survivors and other maritime accidents," Roxas said
'Climate change refugees'
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Environment Neric Acosta said over the weekend that the massive flooding in the country that was triggered by the series of typhoons may create "climate change refugees," who will be leaving their places of origin in search of a safe community.
Speaking before delegates to the 19th Water Philippines at the SMX convention center in Pasay City, Acosta said environment degradation in the country has resulted in the massive flooding in lowland areas.
Millions of people are living in so-called danger zone along riverbanks, waterways and landslide prone areas in various parts of the country.
He said among the hot spots are Northern Manila cities like Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, and Navotas where some of the communities are already under water.
The flood-prone areas in Central Luzon and other parts of the country are also considered hot spots of the looming migration of people seeking safer ground.
Acosta appealed to the delegates and local water management experts to help combat the critical ecosystem in the country, which he said will affect not only the economic situation but also the political landscape if not addressed properly.
Acosta also called for stronger enforcement of environment laws to address the looming water crisis in the country.
He said that water industries can play a vital role in addressing critical problems of ecosystem and environment degradation. – Donnabelle Gatdula, Perseus Echeminada, Eva Visperas, Rainier Allan Ronda, Marvin Sy
Hagonoy residents recovering from floods By Dino Balabo (The Philippine Star) Updated October 04, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0)
HAGONOY, Bulacan ,Philippines – A week into the worst flood to hit this coastal town since 1978, residents are trying to get back on their feet.
Residents woke up yesterday with renewed hope as floodwaters receded by over 12 inches despite heavy rains brought by typhoon "Quiel" on Saturday.
On Sunday, some residents went to the national shrine of St. Anne Church at the town proper here, but no Mass was held as the church's sanctuary remained under water.
Part of the church was used as an evacuation center.
On Sunday morning, residents rushed to buy food but only a few shops opened.
However, a majority of residents milled in front of Maria's mini-mart, which ran its generator sets and allowed people to recharge their cell phones.
The mini-mart's generator ran out of diesel yesterday.
"Boy Yamat should be given an award. It was a big help that people were able to recharge their cell phones," said Max del Rosario, referring to the owner of Maria's mini mart.
Meanwhile, the Hagonoy Water District was able to pump drinking water to their pipelines on Saturday afternoon as diesel supply arrived.
Different groups came to extend assistance, but coordination was chaotic due to lack of a command center.
In nearby Calumpit, authorities delivered relief goods, medicine and dry clothes to thousands of people who were marooned in flooded homes.
Residents waded through waist-deep floods to reach the makeshift command post where food was distributed in sacks and a water filtration system was set up.
"We need clean drinking water and perhaps purification tablets," said Cloie Cruz, 26, who left her parents and three siblings at dawn to fetch supplies.
Rescuers were also finally able to reach areas previously cut off by raging currents, allowing them to bring medicine or to ferry those needing medical attention to evacuation centers or clinics.
As floodwaters subsided, many residents staying on rooftops for days refused to leave their homes for fear of burglars and asked that food and supplies be delivered to them. Others who took advantage of rescue boats lined up in long queues with containers to get drinking water.
"For now we need rescue teams with rubber boats. We need to distribute food and water to the families stranded by the floods. I cannot reach all of them personally," Calumpit Mayor James de Jesus said.
He also appealed for additional police to guard against looters, with some people complaining about stolen property.
He said there would likely be no more need to forcibly evacuate those in their homes as the water receded.
"The most important thing now is to reach those who still need help," he told reporters.
Environment group hits landfill in Bulacan
Meanwhile, an environmental watchdog is asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to a so-called "sanitary landfill" project in Obando, Bulacan following the massive flood that submerged the coastal fishing town.
The EcoWaste Coalition urged Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to cancel the ECC issued by DENR-Region III to a landfill project by EcoShield Development Corp. after typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel" inundated low-lying towns in the province of Bulacan, including Obando.
The group said that according to the ECC, EcoShield is headed by businessman and former ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua.
"The unprecedented flood that engulfed Obando is an explicit proof of how environmentally critical the entire town is and how wrong it is to construct a landfill in such a location that is obviously at risk," said Roy Alvarez, president of EcoWaste.
"We hope that Secretary Paje will finally get this message from the onslaught of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in Bulacan: Obando is a flood-prone municipality and allowing a landfill to rise in the area would be a big mistake," he said.
Groups opposed to the project say that the proposed landfill is in itself a fishpond at the intersection of the Obando-Muzon rivers and Manila Bay, an area that has provided fishermen from Obando, the neighboring cities of Malabon and Navotas and the province of Cavite with plentiful aquatic resources.
Last Sept. 18, Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos reiterated Church opposition to the landfill in a homily. "The environment is a gift from God. We should be responsible in caring for it. We should not destroy it. Instead of polluting, we should love the land and care for it because life comes from the environment," the bishop said.
Various protesters, including citizens' groups, religious associations, an environmental health coalition and a fisherfolk alliance, had earlier asked Paje to halt the construction of the 44-hectare landfill in Barangay Salambao in Obando, citing the proximity of the waste disposal facility to Obando River and Manila Bay.
The groups alleged that the project goes against the basic provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
They said the project will aggravate Obando's decades-long struggle against floods. The landfill will worsen this problem by further narrowing the waterway from upstream starting in the Rizal uplands, down to San Jose del Monte, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Sta. Maria, Marilao and Meycauayan until it reaches Obando, before emptying into Manila Bay, with the water carrying tons of garbage from all sources along the way. – With Rhodina Villanueva, AP
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