Inadequate relief

The people of Loon, Maribojoc, Antequera, Calape, Cortez, Sagbayan, Baclayon, Tubigon, and Clarin in Bohol through their mayors had a common complaint. They had not received sufficient relief goods and on the 3rd day they had nothing more to eat or drink.

Yes, the magnitude of the earthquake had overwhelmed Department of Social Welfare and Development’s efforts to provide relief.

Once again, relief goods had to be airlifted from Manila by the only C-130 plane available.

We wonder if Coast Guard vessels stationed in Cebu City could have been harnessed to bring relief to Loon, Tubigon, and other Bohol towns facing Cebu.

Why was the ‘Sagip Kapamilya’ of ABS-CBN able to reach Loon fast enough, with only Bernadette Sembrano using a hired pump boat?

On TV, we saw cries of evacuees, all asking for water. The Provincial Governor Edgar Chatto responded promptly, but again overwhelmed by the big number of towns that had to be served.

Higher death toll

The casualty list of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake which hit Bohol has risen to 171 dead, with 375 wounded and 20 missing. 19,309 houses were destroyed.

At least 3 towns in Bohol: Loon, Antequera, and Sagbayan are isolated, as bridges going to the towns collapsed. In Loon, 60 surgical cases are still waiting for helicopters to ferry them to Tagbilaran. 45 people have died at Loon.

Once again, ABS-CBN ‘Sagip Kapamilya’ with Bernadette Sembrano was able to reach Loon by pump boat and brought 2,000 food packs.

Three district hospitals have run out of medicines and medical supplies to attend to injured residents.

No transpo

MMDA officer Aldo Mayor detailed on TV the problems that his team of 18 people encountered in going to Loon, Bohol.

First, his team was denied boarding on a C-130 Air Force flight in the morning. They had to take a commercial flight at 3 p.m.

Arriving at Tagbilaran, they had to hire a van to take them to Tagbilaran Port to take a pump boat. The boat ride to Loon took more than 2 hours, but it took 2 hours before the boat could dock.

Mayor said that they could have saved some lives if they had arrived earlier. He also reported they run out of cash to hire a van and pump boat.

The MMDA rescue teams have helped bring down 60 residents of Tanauan, a mountain barangay in Loon, Bohol.

These logistical and coordination problems must be thresh out at National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meetings. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino must also look into the matter.

Sereno reversed

The Supreme Court en banc has reversed the decision of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to ask the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the case of the alleged case fixer “Ma’am Arlene” in the Judiciary.

It decided to form a committee headed by Justice Marvic Leonen to investigate the matter.

This is the second time the Supreme Court reversed the decision of Chief Justice Sereno. The first time was the appointment of a Deputy Administrator in Cebu.

A secret?

Senator Antonio Trillanes slammed Senator Francis Escudero for releasing the names of 6 senators who received an extra P100 million from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund.

Why? Is it supposed to be a closely guarded secret? This betrays the mindset of lawmakers, who up to now have not released their list of projects funded by their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Anthony Taberna revealed on DZMM that TUCP party-list Congressman Raymond Mendoza had given P14 million to a Muslim non-government organization (NGO) to distribute pigs and livestock.

Why has the Commission on Audit (COA) not released the list of congressmen who gave money to NGOs from 2010-2012?

How about the Malampaya funds audit report, announced by COA Chairman Grace Pulido Tan as “explosive”? It was promised to be released this October.

Insensitive

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares hit Malacañang for using the Bohol earthquake as a justification of the use of DAP funds.

“It is insensitive for the President and his propork allies to use the sad plight of the quake victims in the Visayas in their drive to maintain the pork barrel system,” Colmenares said.

He is correct. There is the P7.5-billion Calamity Fund, the P6-billion Presidential Social Fund, the P1-billion Discretionary Fund, the emergency response fund of the departments, even Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds.

There certainly was no justification for Secretary Edwin Lacierda to raise the issue of DAP at a time of calamity. After all, the issue is pending in the Supreme Court.

Even without the DAP, the President can augment the Calamity Fund or certify a special appropriation bill to take care of the emergency.

Worst airport

After several years of being considered a “worst” airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Manila Airport was once again rated not only the worst airport in Asia, but in the whole world.

The negative rating was reported by the travel website “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports” in its October 15 release. Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Narita were rated “best airports”.

Six months ago, the Administration announced a P1.5-billion rehab of NAIA Terminal 1. It hasn’t started.

TIDBITS: The House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has dismissed the election protest filed against Ilocos Sur 1st District Representative Ronald Singson. The dismissal was due to a technicality that protestant Bertrand Baterina filed the case beyond the 15-day deadline after proclamation to file a protest.

Makabayan party-list bloc and other activist organizations filed a 6th petition to declare the DAP unconstitutional.

Senator Cynthia Villar in a privilege speech asked for a review of the powers and operation of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). Senator Villar expressed opposition to the Manila Bay Reclamation Project.

President Aquino has decided to buy 12 fighter jets from South Korea.