Sustained relief effort promised

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday assured the 1.4 million victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the provinces of Leyte and Samar that the national government can sustain relief as well as rehabilitation efforts, on top of the outpouring of foreign aid.

“The President is making sure that the government will be doing this in a sustained manner,” Press Secretary Herminio Coloma told state radio dzRB in his regular weekend interview.

Coloma said the government is determined to ensure that the “distribution of relief goods, and the help that is extended for the affected families to rebuild and start a new and normal life will be on a continuous basis.”

President Aquino yesterday personally inspected the typhoon-ravaged Guiuan town in Eastern Samar and made the rounds again – for the second week – in Tacloban City where he held a briefing and led the distribution of food packs to local residents.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson reported that water services have resumed in Leyte, including Tacloban. He said the Greater Leyte Water District has already released 30,000 cubic meters daily so far.

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) reported that water supply in Tacloban City has been restored. The main pipe in Pastrana, some 14 to 16 kilometers from the city, is now working and can provide chlorinated water.

“As part of the efforts to restore normalcy, the Land Bank will provide 4 ATM units that will arrive in Tacloban today (Nov. 18, Monday); ATMs will begin to dispense cash tomorrow (Nov. 19, Tuesday),” a field report from Malacañang read.

Coloma said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has already distributed a total of 285,007 food and rice packs, 40,144 liters of water and 13,100 high-energy biscuits to 273,251 families in Region 8, or those directly hit by the monster storm in the Visayas region.

About 1,000 tents have also been put up to provide temporary shelter for the victims.

Coloma also said one of the options of the Aquino administration is to tap the Malampaya funds for relief efforts.

“That is one of the options being carefully studied and we will have a decision over it very soon,” he said.

Aquino inspected the town plaza in Guiuan, the public market and its central elementary school. He talked with several typhoon victims, distributed food packs and held a briefing at the municipal hall.

In Tacloban, the President visited the Bethany Hospital, NFA Repacking Center, Leyte Capitol Building, Remedios T. Romualdez Hospital, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center and the seaport.

Aquino was accompanied by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Ricky Carandang, Singson and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.

Other officials included Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr. and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad. Roxas also assured his fellow province mates from Iloilo that the government and volunteers are working overtime to ensure the delivery of relief goods to Western Visayas.

Roxas said the government and the private sector are working together to ensure enough food would be delivered to the people affected by the typhoon.

“Aside from the regular distribution of relief goods, the government and other donors are extending assistance to help bring back the normal supply of water, electricity and communication in the areas affected by the typhoon,” he said.

Soliman, for her part, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development had approved the release of P736 million for the purchase of additional relief goods for Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental and Guimaras.

Roxas added the DILG and DSWD have set up a centralized operation center at the Roxas City Airport for systematic deployment of relief goods in Capiz with the help of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police. –Cecille Suerte Felipe