Palace vows assistance to ‘Pablo’ victims

MANILA, Philippines - Police are on alert to ensure order, bunker houses will be built, and basic needs will be supplied by land, sea and air to the victims of typhoon “Pablo,” Malacañang assured the public yesterday amid reports that relief goods were taking time to arrive, prompting some villagers to resort to looting and begging.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the SARV-3504 (Search and Rescue Vessel), loaded with relief goods and response personnel, has successfully completed its second trip to the town of Banganga, and has ferried 42 residents to Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental.

“It is now on standby for a third trip. Another vessel, the SARV-003, is now moored at Sasa Wharf in Davao City. It will be deployed to augment SARV-3504 after refueling,” Lacierda said.

He said police regional offices in Mindanao are on full alert and its investigation units would assist local government units and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in monitoring price control violations and unfair trade practices.

“To further complement relief operations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will construct today 63 bunkhouses in the hardest hit municipalities of Banganga, Boston, and Cateel in Davao Oriental, and New Bataan in Compostela Valley. Each bunkhouse will provide shelter for 10 families as rehabilitation efforts begin in their towns,” Lacierda said.

The Palace welcomed efforts of TV-5 head and businessman Manny Pangilinan to raise P100 million, through a telethon, for the typhoon victims.

Likewise, Lacierda urged the public to support the initiatives of ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya and GMA’s Kapuso Foundation.

“Both the national government and the private sector are at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in areas affected by this recent calamity. We call on all Filipinos to continue being of service to our countrymen most in need, knowing fully well that together we will persist and we shall overcome these difficult times,” he said.

Lacierda said the government has made the calamity funds available for the victims “to make sure that the people of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley and the affected areas will be able to rise up again.”

He said the Department of Agriculture under Secretary Proceso Alcala would address questions on assistance to banana farmers, especially now that “our situation with China has been resolved.”

The Palace official said various countries as well as the United Nations had pledged help for the typhoon victims.

Roads must be cleared

Lacierda said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) would provide help continuously and C-130 planes of the military would also be used to transport relief goods as some roads have to be cleared first for vehicles to be able to reach typhoon-ravaged areas.

He said while the survivors were being attended to, there would be no let up on search and rescue operations.

“We need to look for the missing people. We also ask the Filipino people to pray for our countrymen who have yet to be found and for those who perished in the tragedy,” he said.

Lacierda said so far, the P42 million in funds is sufficient, but impassable roads remain a problem.

He said there are designated DSWD drop-off points in Mindanao to receive donations from private sectors.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Transportations and Communications (DOTC) would assist donors in directly bringing aid to affected municipalities.

“As far as we know, the problem is with the delivery, not the supply. But certainly we would like to do it as how they did – the multiplication of loaves and fishes. So it’s something that the government would certainly welcome, private sector initiatives,” he said.

Lacierda said while they focus on providing temporary relief for the victims, the government has also been working on long-term plans to keep people away from areas classified as danger zones.

“In the meantime, what’s important is their shelter first because they really don’t have roofs over their heads. That’s the important thing that we are doing,” he said.

– With Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado, Danny Dangcalan, Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores