MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino declared yesterday a state of national calamity in the aftermath of the devastation caused by tropical storm “Sendong” as he visited Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete cities yesterday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has placed the death toll from the storm at close to a thousand with an undetermined number still missing, mostly from the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
Aquino held meetings with officials in the two cities, which were worst-hit by water, mud and logs that swept down mountains as residents in riverside and coastal villages slept in the early hours of Saturday.
“First priority is to relocate to areas that no longer pose a danger to them,” Aquino said at a meeting with officials in Cagayan de Oro, as he vowed action to prevent another tragedy of the same magnitude.
The NDRRMC said more than 338,000 people in 13 provinces were affected by the disaster, with nearly 43,000 still in evacuation centers.
More than 10,000 houses were damaged by the storm and the flashfloods, nearly a third of which were totally ruined. Many schools, roads and bridges were also badly damaged.
During his visit, the President enumerated the actions undertaken by the government to help those affected by the flashfloods, including a P28-million cash-for-work program. He also said the offers of assistance from other countries have been overwhelming.
“Let me inform you that we can obtain $3 million from the ADB (Asian Development Bank), and if the funds we have set aside to respond to calamities end up insufficient, then the World Bank is ready to lend $500 million at low interest,” he said.
“We have been overwhelmed with offers of assistance from Japan, America, Australia, Russia, China, as well as other countries. For this, we are extremely grateful to the friends of the Philippines and of the Filipino people in the international community,” Aquino said.
The President said the United States would assist in airlifting relief goods to calamity-stricken areas.
Aquino personally turned over at least P71.7-million worth of financial aid for the rehabilitation of Iligan City.
He then went back to Cagayan de Oro before proceeding to Dumaguete City for another briefing on the extent of disaster caused by Sendong in Negros Oriental.
A logical solution
At Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said under a state of national calamity, automatic appropriations under Republic Act No. 7160 would be available for unforeseen expenditures arising from the occurrence of calamities in the areas and local government units could enact supplemental budget for supplies and materials to prevent danger to or loss of lives.
She said another important effect of the state of national calamity would be the automatic imposition of price controls.
“The prices of basic necessities in an area shall be automatically frozen at the prevailing prices,” Valte said.
The government financial and lending institutions would be authorized to extend no-interest loans, she said.
Valte said public health workers as well as science and technological personnel could be given hazard allowance as a result of the declaration of the state of national calamity.
The President said the government was currently focused on providing assistance and relief to affected areas.
He also cited media organizations, telecommunication companies and universities like Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University and many others who partnered with so many ordinary citizens to volunteer and generously donate what they could to help.
He said the government had also been able to pre-position relief goods in a timely way, for areas that had been determined to be in the path of typhoons.
He also cited the readiness of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in disseminating information, not only through their websites and various social networking sites, but also through text blasts.
Aquino said he has formed a task force composed of representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government, DSWD, DPWH, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Justice, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mindanao Development Authority.
“They will investigate, give solutions and responses to our questions and identify who must be held accountable,” he said.
Aquino was joined by Secretaries Rogelio Singson of Public Works, Corazon Soliman of Social Welfare, Armin Luistro of Education, Mario Montejo of Science, Enrique Ona of Health, Jesse Robredo of Interior and Local Government, Ramon Paje of Environment, Voltaire Gazmin of Defense, presidential adviser on environmental concerns Nereus Acosta, PhilHealth president Eduardo Banzon, NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Lualhati Antonino, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senate Majority Leader Teofisto Guingona III.
United Nations resident coordinator Soe Nyunth-U and UN office for coordination of humanitarian affairs in the Philippines David Carden also joined the briefing.
Government agencies and NGOs rush to help
The President personally saw the sad plight of the victims, who were fighting for space at evacuation centers.
Mortuaries have been unable to cope and authorities have started digging mass graves to bury victims.
Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are struggling to prevent disease from spreading in crowded evacuation centers and have started mass burial of decomposing bodies.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said it had warned authorities in the area last year about the need to relocate families living along riverbanks that swelled after one month’s worth of rainfall fell over the weekend.
“This tragedy that happened in Cagayan de Oro will be repeated in the future. And therefore, there needs to be appropriate preparation to prevent fatalities,” Leo Jasareno, acting director of the MGB, said.
The President ordered authorities to make sure that those who are still missing are all accounted for.
“My concern right now is the missing. Let us exhaust all possible means to try and find all of the missing individuals. The Cabinet has been given instructions specific of their respective areas of concern and responsibility,” he said.
He also called on the people living in danger areas not to return and that both national and local officials would have to ensure permanent relocation.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, in the meantime, urged the Filipino people to give aid to the victims of flashfloods.
“Our kababayans (countrymen) in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City are in dire need of our help. Donations, whether in cash or in kind, would go a long way towards easing their suffering,” he said.
Binay earlier personally distributed 2,880 bags of relief goods to Kagay-anons staying at the evacuation centers in Macasandig, City Central Elementary School and West City Elementary School.
He also ordered the Office of the Vice President to distribute 5,000 bags of relief goods to victims in Iligan City, 5,000 to Dumaguete City and another 10,000 bags to Cagayan de Oro, which will be available on Dec. 22..
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has sent a two-ton water purifier and a 19-man relief team to Iligan City.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the team will be ferried by the Philippine Navy and will be spending Christmas day in Iligan City.
The relief team will be composed of personnel from the MMDA’s Road Emergency Group and will include trained rescue personnel, paramedics and two mechanics.
“These personnel are experienced. They were also at Calumpit and Hagonoy after typhoons ‘Quiel’ and “Pedring’,” said Tolentino.
“One of the most urgent needs of the distressed areas is clean, potable water. We will address that need,” he added.
On Monday, the Makati City Council authorized the release of P4 million from the city’s funds to support aid and relief operations in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Iligan.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the City Council authorized the release of the amount from city’s Quick Response Fund under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the 2011 Executive Budget.
The SM group of companies has donated P10 million in cash and in kind. It has also supplied evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro more than 10,000 bottles of water. The SM mall in Cagayan de Oro, which was not affected by the floods, also gives shelter to some families.
The Davao City government held a special session Monday to approve the P3-million assistance to the affected areas.
Mayor Sara Duterte said the city will continue to extend assistance to the victims of the flashfloods and may also send search and rescue teams should the local government units in the area ask for such support.
Various civic and non-government organizations in the city have also launched fund-raising drives for the flood victims.
The Sonshine Media Philippine Movement of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name congregation sent truckloads of bottled water and relief goods to Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan immediately after the incident.
Not to be outdone, the Butuan City council headed by City Mayor Dr. Ferdinand Amante Jr. sent search and rescue teams to augment other agencies involved in various operations.
PMA addresses health concerns
Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is sending 250 medical professionals to calamity-stricken areas to address the health concerns of the residents there.
“Sendong has stolen the Christmas from the typhoon victims. We’re doing this mission to try to bring it back to them, or even a semblance of it,” Dr. Mike Aragon, director of PMA Media Affairs, said.
Dubbed “Oplan: Doc Santa,” the teams would start going to Northern Mindanao on Dec. 25. Each team will be composed of doctors, psychiatrists, faith-based counselors, dentists, nurses, midwives and optometrists.
Aragon said PMA will also bring music bands and movie stars to entertain the victims.
PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio said psycho-social counseling will also be offered by psychiatrists and faith-based counselors will help the victims cope with their ordeal. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado, Sheila Crisostomo, Ben Serrano, Mike Frialde, Eva Visperas - By Aurea Calica
