LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. expressed dismay over some Cabinet members for the wrong reports they are giving the President regarding the extent of destruction brought by storm Cosme in Pangasinan that has reached more than P4.306 billion in damages, with 39 deaths.
Espino, in a press conference yesterday, said he knows President Gloria Arroyo is concerned too well about Pangasinan. He said when the President came here Friday, they were instructed to use first their calamity fund while she pledged to give P500 million worth of roofing materials for the repair of damaged houses to be divided by three calamity-stricken provinces like Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales.
“Pakiusap ko lang sa kanyang mga Cabinet secretaries, while I praise the DPWH for its prompt action of clearing the roads of debris, pero yong iba, totohanin naman nila maski report man lang sana, para naman hindi umasa sa amin ang mga kababayan namin (I appeal to the Cabinet secretaries, especially to some, that they should give true reports, even only by true reporting, so that our people will not rely on us),” he said.
“What I hate most is we have been exerting all our time, efforts and resources and people expect from us and there are wrong reports fed by some Cabinet secretaries,” he said.
He said people should realize that for now, practically the province is left on its own for rehabilitation efforts, thus he is appealing to all concerned for help.
He said they (local officials) are in the frontlines and the people have been nagging them for help.
“Whatever the President thinks, I cannot answer that. I know she sympathizes with us. She’s our President but how she’s going to help us, I leave that to her,” Espino said.