Noy visits Albay to assess damage caused by continuous rains

LEGAZPI CITY , Philippines -  – President Aquino visited Albay province yesterday morning to assess the damage caused by continuous rains and directed government agencies to support the needs of the 2,853 families or 14,719 people who are still staying at various evacuation centers and address the damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

Aquino thanked Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for taking the lead in conducting preemptive evacuation in coordination with local chief executives and different government line agencies, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), in preventing more casualties.

The President also warned against illegal logging, which he said continues to be one of the major causes of landslides.

Aquino is also scheduled to visit Southern Leyte and Caraga after his Albay visit.

“We feel vindicated in giving him 62 percent support, second only to Tarlac his home province,” said Salceda, who claimed that the President’s presence in their province has given them confidence.

Office of Civil Defense regional director Raffy Alejandro told Aquino that the continuous rainfall brought about by the tail-end of the cold front has resulted in eight casualties and affected some 303,267 people in Bicol, 208,601 of them from Albay.

Alejandro said damage to infrastructure in the region has already reached P560 million – nearly, broken down as follows: P476.3 million in Albay; P61 million in Camarines Sur; P12.5 million in Catanduanes and another P10 million in Camarines Norte.

Damage to agriculture in Albay province has been placed at P75 million, including Sorsogon at P1.5 million.

Aquino told the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prioritize the infrastructure rehabilitation in the province.

Salceda has requested another P575 million for flood mitigation by putting up floodgates to protect Legazpi City.

More rains to come

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was with the President, called on governors and mayors in the Bicol region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao to brace for further widespread rains that may cause massive flashfloods and landslides in these areas.

Robredo instructed local government officials in the three regions to enforce the disaster risk reduction mechanisms in their respective localities in preparation for the rainy days.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) identified nine provinces that will continue to experience heavy rains caused by the combined effect of the northeast monsoon and the tail end of the cold front.

Aside from Albay and Southern Leyte, provinces that will be affected are Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Samar and Northern Leyte.

Robredo urged the affected local government units (LGUs) to activate their respective disaster risk reduction management councils and put all necessary mechanisms in place.

He encouraged them to observe their calamity response protocols, including the activation of all disaster command and auxiliary command centers, area-wide warning and alarm system and deployment of emergency response, rescue and medical teams in areas hit by disasters.

“I also urge the local PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection to work hand in hand with the LGUs and to be prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

Robredo also called on all local governments not affected by floods to support and extend their assistance to calamity-stricken provinces, cities and towns.

“In the spirit of bayanihan, LGUs should help one another during these trying times,” he said.

DOLE prepares assistance

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now preparing emergency employment and livelihood assistance for workers displaced by the severe weather phenomenon.

Nicon Fameronag, DOLE’s information director, said the regional offices are still assessing the situation and could not yet determine how many workers were displaced by the flooding in their respective jurisdictions.

But DOLE’s Bicol region director Alvin Villamor said that they are already preparing to assist the workers who were affected by the continuous rains in the area.

“We will see how we can assist the displaced workers as soon as we receive an assessment on the affected workers,” Villamor said, adding that the LGUs would first screen the workers and their families before they can be eligible for the emergency employment or livelihood assistance. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mayen Jaymalin