AQUINO DISTRIBUTES RELIEF PACKAGES: 'I KNOW GOVT
COULD HAVE DONE MORE'
[PHOTO - GRIEF AND RELIEF
President Aquino distributes relief packages to flood victims at Iligan National
High School on Tuesday. The President earlier visited Cagayan de Oro City. He
also stopped at Dumaguete City. EDWIN BACASMAS]
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, DECEMBER
21, 2011 (INQUIRER) By
Norman Bordadora - President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday declared a
state of national calamity and vowed to mobilize assistance for victims of the
worst storm to hit his presidency.
"I need to ask myself. Did the government do enough to prevent this kind of a
tragedy? I don't think I can accept that we have done everything," Mr. Aquino
told evacuees at Cagayan de Oro Central School during a lightning visit to the
disaster zone four days after Tropical Storm "Sendong" struck. "I know we could
have done more."
The President himself has been criticized for attending a Christmas Party for
his Presidential Security Group on Saturday as Sendong rampaged across Mindanao
and the Visayas, igniting flash floods and causing death and destruction.
"My concern right now is specifically those missing," Mr. Aquino said. "Let
us exhaust all possible means to try and find all of these missing individuals,"
he told national and local officials at the base of the Philippine Air Force
Tactical Operations Group 10.
The President also stopped at the cities of Iligan and Dumaguete to inspect
the devastation and help distribute relief goods at the evacuation centers.
"We will be assisting not only Cagayan and Iligan, but also Negros Oriental
and Iloilo. We'd like to assure you that we are going to fine-tune all of the
systems in place so that we can prevent a similar tragedy from happening."
The President said the calamity funds stood at P1.17 billion. He said he
declared the state of calamity to start the mechanisms from which the government
could get additional relief funding.
"We can get P3 million from the (Asian Development Bank) while there is P500
million on standby that the World Bank would loan in case the funds that have
long been prepared for these kinds of calamities run short," he said. "There are
also offers of help from Japan, America, Australia, Russia, China and other
countries."
Infra repairs
Among the expected expenses are the repair of a vital bridge, which will cost
P54 million; the reconstruction and replacement of some components of the water
systems, P90 million; and a thousand automatic water level sensors for 18 major
river basins, P150 million.
"The core shelter for both Cagayan and Iligan will be about P150 million,"
President Aquino said.
"Plus, part of the reason that we're here is really to assess the need for
the houses, permanent houses. We don't have an estimate for that yet but there's
an initial 1,000 houses earmarked for Cagayan from the (National Housing
Authority)," he added.
The President said that he had formed a multiagency task force that would
look into ways to improve the systems to alleviate the effects of natural
disasters.
"There is also going to be a fact-finding team to determine exactly where we
can still augment the systems and procedures in place so that there are no
casualties of this magnitude ever again," he said.
"I think all of us are aware exactly of certain situations that have
happened, deforestation which has always been a problem," the President said.
"We have a geo-hazard map that identified Isla De Oro as a place that will be
a catch basin of floodwaters when a storm comes. Because we know the topography,
we have also identified places where the waters will quickly flow," Mr. Aquino
said.
"Why were there still residents in these places?" he added. "We don't have
any intention of fixing blame at this time. But it is our obligation to find out
what happened."
Mr. Aquino said he had instructed the Department of the Interior and Local
Government and the Philippine National Police to prevent residents from
returning to the danger areas—such as riverbanks.
"Going back to danger areas should no longer be permitted. I want that very
clear… no settlement in portions already described as extremely dangerous …like
Isla De Oro, and neighboring barangays (villages)," the President said.
"To prevent a repeat of this tragedy, we need to know where there were
shortcomings, who were at fault and how these should be made accountable," he
said, adding that he had ordered Mujiv Hataman, officer in charge of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to stop illegal logging.
Loans available
In Dumaguete City, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman said a
family whose home was partially damaged was eligible to get assistance worth
P5,000 while families whose homes were totally damaged could get up to P70,000
each.
Soliman said the money would be taken from the P4.1-million funding
assistance to be given on condition that the victims do not move back to the
riverbanks. With reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Karen
Boncocan in Manila; and Alex Pal, Inquirer Visayas
FROM THE TRIBUNE
3 days, 1,000 rotting bodies after, Noy visits crisis area
By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 12/21/2011
[PHOTO - Navy personnel load about 500 coffins on the BRP Dagupan for
shipment to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Tuesday due to arrive
there on Christmas Eve. Coffinmakers in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, worked through the
night]
It took three days and more than 1,000 lost lives discovered before President
Aquino was able to make it to the areas ravaged by tropical storm "Sendong" and
it looks like he is also taking his sweet time before actually signing a
proclamation declaring a state of national calamity to ensure the swift delivery
of government aid and reconstruction effort.
Although Aquino has announced that he will declare a state of national
calamity in areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, it appeared that he did so as a
mere reaction to the devastation and the human agony that he witnessed upon
setting foot in Cagayan de Oro City, one of the areas that saw the wrath of
Sendong.
"We will be declaring a state of national calamity…we will be assisting not
only Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City but also Negros Oriental and Iloilo," Aquino
said at a press briefing in Cagayan de Oro City.
Aquino also announced the creation of a fact-finding team that would
investigate the root of the devastation during the onslaught of Sendong, but
even before an actual probe is even conducted , he is already making all
possible excuses to exculpate government institutions which may have a direct
role in disaster management.
" We have no desire to engage in finger-pointing or to assign blame at a time
like this. Yet, we have an obligation to find out exactly what has happened. To
this end, we have formed a task force composed of representatives from the DILG,
DSWD,
DPWH, DoST, DoJ, DENR and the Mindanao Development Authority. They will
investigate; give solutions and responses to our questions; and identify who
must be held accountable," said Aquino in his speech delivered at City Central
School of Cagayan de Oro City.
Authorities began burying the dead from flash floods spawned by Sendong that
left more than 1,000 dead or missing mostly from the port cities of Cagayan de
Oro and Iligan, which is currently choked with drying mud, crumpled homes, and
hundreds of decomposing corpses.
Two dump trucks arrived at the public cemetery in Iligan at dusk, with
soldiers unloading 38 coffins of victims who have been identified and claimed by
relatives, who cried and lit candles as they witnessed the burial.
As the stench of decomposing bodies grew unbearable and health fears rose
yesterday, local authorities had announced plans for burials in mass graves but
after intense criticism they hastily arranged individual tombs.
Iligan city Mayor Lawrence Cruz said as he led the first of the burials. A
priest sprinkled holy water on each coffin before it was pushed into the tombs.
Cruz said that forensics experts were taking fingerprints and DNA samples of
the many other unidentified bodies at overflowing local mortuaries and that
dozens more cadavers would be ready for burial on Wednesday.
Aquino pledged aid to the slum communities hit by the disaster, which the
government has said left 957 people dead and 49 others missing — a toll they
fear could rise as bodies swept out to sea begin to surface.
"I assure you the government will help you rebuild your homes. But in return
we expect you to refrain from moving back to those places that put your lives at
constant risk," Aquino said in a speech at an evacuation center.
The actual presidential proclamation has yet to be prepared and signed by the
president, admitted Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte. She said that
Aquino was expected to sign the proclamation as soon as he gets back to Manila
following his visit in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete City.
Valte did not explain why Aquino had to wait to three long days before
signing the proclamation.
Aquino, earlier earned an avalanche of criticisms after it was found that he
was partying with starlets and the Presidential Security Group while Typhoon
Sendong was wreaking havoc in Northern Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Valte underscored the importance of
Aquino's proclamation to declare a national state of calamity in areas affected
by typhoon Sendong as it would allow the national government to allocate
unprogrammed funds to assist calamity victims and expedite reconstruction
efforts of the affected areas.
"That is yet to be determined if how much is needed. As you all know,
Secretary Butch Abad yesterday said that President Aquino directed the release
of P1.297 billion from the calamity fund which can be tapped for the
calamity-related assistance that the government will continue to extend to the
flood-stricken areas," said Valte when asked how much the government is willing
to allocate as part of the state of calamity fund.
Valte said the proclamation would also allow LGUs to enact supplemental
budget for supplies and materials. It would also allow the automatic imposition
of price control on basic commodities.
"The prices of basic necessities in an area shall be automatically frozen at
the prevailing prices," said Valte as she added that the proclamation would also
allow the government financial and lending institutions to extend no interest
loans.
Public health workers and science and technology personnel are also given
hazard allowance.
Valte said it is still unclear if the proclamation will have a specific
duration or would be open-ended which would require the president to lift it
also via presidential proclamation.
Aside from the funds that will come from the national government, the
President said there are supports coming from foreign donors, some in the form
of loans and others providing equipment and expertise.
After meeting officials in Cagayan de Oro, the President flew to Iligan City,
to also assess the situation there. He is also scheduled to lead the
distribution of relief goods in Iligan City which is also hardly hit by Typhoon
Sendong.
After visiting Iligan City, the President went back to Cagayan de Oro to
distribute assistance to the affected residents. By noon, Aquino departed from
Cagayan de Oro to Dumaguete City, another devastated area.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
(NDRRMC), the death toll in Region 10 now reaches close to 1,000, ith many still
unaccounted for.
"I expect newly appointed ARMM OIC-Gov. Mujiv Hataman will wholeheartedly
implement the total log ban on natural forests I declared, as I have received
reports that illegal loggers have shamelessly continued their operations in his
region," he added.
In a press briefing , Aquino said the fact-finding body which would find out
what caused the flash floods that swept entire communities in Cagayan de Oro
City and Iligan City and why there is so much loss of lives.
Among the issues that would be looked into by the probe body are reports of
massive illegal logging in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and
unregulated small scale mining.
According to Aquino, he was informed that despite the prevailing total log
ban on natural forests, illegal logging operations continued in some parts of
the ARMM. He said he has already instructed Hattaman to look into these illegal
logging activities in the region.
Aquino said the fact-finding team would look into the culpability of certain
officials who may could be accountable for the failed implementation of the
total log ban in the ARMM.
"I leave the answer to that until the fact-finding team that we created has
finished. It is hard to accuse left and right, " said Aquino.
But while Aquino is declaring an all-out probe on the tragedy caused by
Typhoon Sendong, he was also very liberal in defending the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) which
is also being blamed for its failure to issue appropriate warnings which would
have given residents ample time to evacuate and leave potential danger zones.
Aquino insisted that as early as Dec. 13, Pagasa already issued a typhoon
warning but residents, even those who are in areas which have been declared as
danger zones, have refused to leave their homes.
He also responded to criticisms following reports that he was partying with
starlets and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) as Typhoon Sendong was
ravaging Northern Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas by insisting that he
was full on the top of the situation and has in fact met with the NDRRMC before
attending the PSG Christmas ball.
Aquino claimed that he attended the party because he did not want to
disappoint the children who even prepared presentations for him. He added the
affair was also very important because aside from being a Christmas party, it is
also the PSG's anniversary.
In his speecch Aquino said the government is currently focused on providing
assistance and relief to affected areas. He said the Relief Supplies and Standby
Funds of DSWD have already released P 72.5 million.
He said that "PhilHealth will grant benefits even to victims who are not its
members, while PCSO, according to its Chairman, Margie Juico, will be
shouldering the fees of the victims admitted to the Northern Mindanao Medical
Center in Cagayan de Oro."
He said the DPWH is working to reconstruct fallen bridges so that help can
more swiftly reach those who need it. These agencies stand alongside our
frontliners from the DSWD, the AFP, the Coast Guard, the PNP, and different
LGUs.
"I ask: how did it come to this? We knew that Sendong would strike. Ondoy,
Pepeng, and Pedring are still fresh in our memories, and we strived to avoid
disasters of their scale. When I entered office, I was told that 43 of the 80
provinces of the Philippines—more than half—are vulnerable when storms strike.
That stunned me, and I had them re-verify these numbers. When the research came
back, they amended the tally to comprise 66 provinces at risk," he said.
"This gave us even more cause for alarm, which is why we put in place certain
measures.Now, because there is active coordination between the NDRRMC and your
local government units, agencies are ready to take the necessary actions, even
before the first drops of rain hit the earth. We have also been able to
preposition relief goods in a timely way, for the areas that have been
determined to be in the path of typhoons. And Pagasa and NDRRMC have been active
in disseminating information, not only through their websites and various social
networking sites, but also through text blasts," he added.
"Let us prove to the world: such tragedies may strike us 10 times, but Juan
and Juana dela Cruz shall rise from the fall 11 times; we shall rise from the
fall. Let this tragedy be an opportunity for us to accomplish the kind of change
that will weather any storm and withstand any deluge. May this mark the start of
a long-term transformation in our views, attitudes, and actions. We shall look
back at this time and recall how united we were, how we were galvanized into
action, and how we proved to the world that the Filipino spirit cannot be
crushed," he added. Angie M. Rosales
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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