Ilonggos to national gov't: Yolanda also devastated Region 6

CEBU, Philippines - Many Ilonggos have run to social media to lament the apparent lack of attention of the national government to the plight of residents of Western Visayas, which was also hardly hit by typhoon Yolanda.

John, who hails from Capiz province and is an overseas Filipino worker in Europe, said that Panay Island has not been taken into the picture of Yolanda's devastation. "It looks like the destruction of Yolanda in Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, and Aklan have been underrated," he added.

Florence, on the other hand, grumbled that the spotlight has been focused in Leyte and Samar. "We might not have been as hit as those areas but I believe that aids have not been properly and equally distributed. Almost all international aids are directed towards Leyte and Samar," she said.

Even local media personnel believed that Panay Island has not been getting the attention and resources it needs and deserves to have.

When representatives of national government agencies were asked yesterday, they only said that President Benigno Aquino III already talked to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. and promised full assistance for Iloilo and the rest of Panay Island.

Reports said P1.2 billion has been allocated for Panay Island. DSWD-Region 6 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said international aid might come but she could not provide clear details about it.

Restoration of electricity was earlier reported to be one of the orders of President Aquino when he visited Roxas City last Sunday. He also wanted communication lines restored as soon as possible, as well as potable water supply.

According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, 134 of its 285 of its towers from Panit-an, Capiz to Nabas, Aklan were down. Currently, the whole of Capiz province has yet to be energized.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, for his part, also asked for the proper recording of data and the immediate transmission to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC). "What we do is we collate data as it arrives to our office," said Ma. Aletha Nogra of the Office of Civil Defense-Region 6.

Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office-6 has debunked rumors that looting occurred in some badly hit areas in Western Visayas. "Wala po tayong natatanggap na report tungkol doon from our field commanders," said Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., director of PRO-6. (FREEMAN)