Noy flies to Bohol, Cebu today

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will fly to Bohol and Cebu today to lead authorities in assisting victims of the most destructive earthquake to hit Central Visayas in 20 years.

Aquino met with Cabinet members for an assessment of the situation in the areas hit by the earthquake and described what happened as literally shattering for him because of the magnitude of destruction.

He said authorities responded immediately and he was grateful that everything was being very well attended to.

At the same time, Aquino announced yesterday that he would push through with his trip to South Korea tomorrow.

“Well, siyempre, nakakayanig (earth-shaking), literally and figuratively, it is an earthquake. Bohol, for instance, has I’m told one city and 47 municipalities (affected), then you want to get in touch with all of the barangays,” Aquino told reporters after his meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The President said he wanted to improve the government’s ability to prepare for and respond to earthquakes.

Aquino said his first instruction was to make sure that no one would be isolated.

The President said he wanted people out of danger because of liquefaction, and the usual questions on the possibility of tsunami and other effects would have to be addressed as well.

Aquino said he asked about the inventory and compliance with the Building Code of 2010, which specifically called for new buildings to be able to withstand a 7.2 earthquake.

He said the government had prepared for disasters, including updates on geo-hazard maps, to put people away from danger and to educate local government officials that did not know how to use them.

He said there must be closer coordination so that the country could be more prepared every time an earthquake would strike.

Aquino said the public must also be constantly educated and local government units must be trained so that the national agencies could get faster information from the ground.

Airlines suspend flights

Airlines were forced to suspend their operations, particularly in Tagbilaran and Cebu, after the earthquake.

In its advisory, budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) said flights to Tagbilaran were cancelled because of the suspension of operations at the Tagbilaran Airport.

On the other hand, the airline said flights to and from Cebu were temporarily suspended but resumed at around 11:30 a.m.

“Please expect consequential delays on flights today. We will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available. Thanks for understanding and please do spread the word to anyone you know who may be affected by this incident,” Cebu Pacific said.

National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and sister firm PAL Express said all flights to Tagbilaran resumed based on its advisory at around 11 a.m.

PAL, jointly owned by taipan Lucio Tan and diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp., said the government has cleared the airport after the earthquake.  â€“ With Lawrence Agcaoili, Evelyn Macairan, Paolo Romero, Mayen Jaymalin, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rainier Allan Ronda, Rudy Santos, Roel Pareño, Ricky Bautista, Michelle Palaubsanon