Noy to seek prayers from Pope Francis amid disasters

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will seek prayers from Pope Francis for the country to have fewer disasters during their meeting at Malacañang next month.

Aquino also said since he is the host, he would let Pope Francis steer the discussions.

“We’ll have something like a maximum of one hour and I’m sure there are so many people who would love to have an opportunity to be… blessed by him… In that one hour, I guess I really will leave the discussion topics to him out of respect,” the President said at the annual Bulong Pulungan at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Aquino noted that the Philippines is being visited by so many typhoons and they come even at “unseasonal moments.”

“I’m sure some are asking: why are we being visited with all of these always at this point when it is supposed to be the most joyous and most celebratory period of the year?” he asked.

The President also cited the earthquakes and the threats of volcanic eruptions stopping the country’s ability to stop the cycle of destruction and reconstruction.

“The goal really is when we reconstruct, it’s better. It withstands the glowing intensity of the effects of global climate change better, and our people are spared the ravages of the increasing challenges,” he added.

The pontiff is set to visit the country from Jan. 15 to 19. He will also go to Tacloban City in Leyte which was severely hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Fr. Alcris Badana, rehabilitation coordinator of the Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte, expressed fears that Typhoon Ruby might affect their preparations for the papal visit.

“We’re praying that Typhoon Ruby would no longer come. I would say it would affect the preparations. It was only a year ago when Typhoon Yolanda (struck) and we are still recovering and… definitely preparations would be affected, but as to what extent I still don’t know,” said Badana said.

But he gave assurance that they have been doing their best, as much as possible, to make sure that their efforts for the papal visit would not be affected by the incoming storm.

Need to educate public

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, meanwhile, said there is a need to educate the public on basic tools that they could use to respond to disasters.

He cited the ability to read maps and devices with global positioning system (GPS) as two such tools.

“These tools are key to disaster mitigation, hazard prevention, and disaster response. What use would be information such as the geohazard maps we produce if people do not know how to read them?” he said.

The environment chief said government must focus on efforts to “compel the public to learn how to read maps or at least understand directions so that they know how to act in times of disaster.”

Science Secretary Mario Montejo, for his part, has advised people living in areas along the projected track of Typhoon Ruby to pack their emergency supplies and valuable belongings in “survival kits” while there is still time.

Montejo explained that survival kits can be prepared in advance using a waterproof bag that contains food and water provisions for at least three days, pocket knife, first aid kit, matches or lighters, flashlight with extra batteries, cash, extra clothes, a long rope, plus cellphone with e-cards and charger or powerbank.

Important documents should be sealed in plastic or any waterproof material.

 He also reiterated the call for those staying in fragile housing structures to move to safe temporary shelters as part of the overall preventive evacuation measures now being undertaken in many local communities throughout Eastern Visayas.

He also expressed the need for local leaders to closely coordinate with vital government services to ensure peace and order as well as continuity of operations before, during and after calamities.

 The Department of Health (DOH), on the other hand, has adopted the “buddy system” to mitigate the impacts of Typhoon Ruby.

DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo Bayugo said under the system, DOH regional offices and retained hospitals would be assisting their counterparts in certain regions expected to be affected by the typhoon.

“There will be three regions coordinating among each other, ready to help anytime. This means that affected regions could communicate directly with their buddy regions, without getting the go-signal from the central office, without a centralized decision-making that sometimes delays the response time,” he explained. – With Rhodina Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Evelyn Macairan, Sheila Crisostomo