Growing anger

On the 8th day after typhoon ‘Yolanda’ hit, the delivery of relief goods to the majority of the devastated areas has not happened. Some towns have been reached, but not the barangays.

Even in the central city of Tacloban, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) admitted that it has distributed relief to only 60 out of the 138 barangays. Relief only arrived Thursday at the nearby towns of Tanauan and Palo.

The situation is worse in Eastern Samar as relief and rescue team arrived at Guiuan only on Thursday. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reached Guiuan only on Thursday, with the airport reopened for operation. Governor Sheree Ann Tan of Samar did her share of helping the people of Basey and Marabut where 443 people died. The Capitol town of Catbalogan is overflowing with refugees.

The relief effort in Ormoc City and the western part of Leyte has finally got going on Wednesday as the airport reopened. Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN, as always, reached many areas ahead of government.

Most of foreign aid has reached Manila and Cebu, but a big part of it has to be repacked. Foreign doctors have arrived, but it takes them 4 to 5 days to reach their assigned areas. CNN, the New York Times, the UN, and local media are agreed that the government response is slow.

President Aquino, Secretary Gazmin, Secretary Almendras, Secretary Abaya, and Secretary Coloma, in separate interviews said that the government is overwhelmed by the massive devastation.

Now that Tacloban, Guiuan, and Ormoc airports are finally operational, and with 6 C-130s being made available by the United States for the relief effort, the pace is picking up.        

But one major problem has arisen. Trucks carrying relief goods are stuck at the ferry in Matnog, Sorsogon. Even in the areas of destination, including Tacloban, there are a limited number of trucks available. The Armed Forces of the Philippines should buy additional trucks instead of fighter jets.

New York Times report

The New York Times reported a ”growing anger” at President Aquino as Filipinos are “losing patience.” It said the President “appears to have been caught off guard by the scope of the crisis.”

It quoted Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who said: “He has to move fast, otherwise this will engulf him.” It also quoted Dr. Natasha Reyes, the Philippines emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders: “The situation is catastrophic — it’s total chaos.” It noted the scarcity of trucks. It further observed that “anger” and “frustration” has been boiling over as essential supplies fail to reach many of the areas in need.

The New York Times reported that the president’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Some observations

Why did it take 5 days to realize that Guiuan has a big airport that can be used to service Samar? Why was Maasin airport not utilized?

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) underestimated the damage as they started packing at 10,000 a day; increased to 50,000 on the 3rdday; and on the 6th day they tried to reach 146,000 packs a day.

Why have more soldiers not been assigned to pick up the dead people on the streets? Why is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) not working double time to clear the streets starting with Tacloban? Why not release all the rice in the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Leyte?

The death toll has reached 3,621, more than the 2,000-2,500 estimate of President Aquino. The UN estimated the death toll at 4,000.

More observations

According to the New York Times, only 70 Tacloban City employees reported for work, out of a total workforce of 2,700.

Father Edgar Abusejo of Salcedo, Eastern Samar rode his motorcycle for 3 days to reach Manila, to bring attention to the needs of his ravaged town of Salcedo.

Antique Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao reported 30,000 families affected in Antique, with 12 dead, and little relief goods have reached them.

Vice President Binay visited Iloilo to distribute relief.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas admitted that “no response is fast enough” in a CNN interview.

Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama has put up a refugee reception center in Tinago, Cebu City, for refugees arriving from Leyte and Samar.

PRC Chairman Richard Gordon announced the putting-up of Tent City on a 4-hectare lot in Hilongos, Leyte.

Metro Manila mayors will adopt 31 towns.

Leyte and Samar

Five hundred National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) towers have been destroyed by typhoon ‘Yolanda’ causing widespread blackouts.

Dulag, Abuyog, Isabel, Merida, Jaro, and other Leyte towns are begging for relief. Fr. Roy Villas appeals for help to Palompon. Sta. Rita, Eastern Samar is also badly damaged.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), principally the Philippine Air Force, is extending aid and medical assistance to Leyteños arriving in Manila. How about the Lions and Rotary Clubs helping out with some cash? Can the survivors be given P1,400 each from the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of DSWD?

How about 24 senators going to Villamor Air Base to meet arriving survivors and give them cash, probably P5,000? Also, helping them go to their relatives’ houses.

TIDBITS: LTO officer-in-charge Alfonso Tan Jr. has been appointed LTO chief by President Aquino.

Former Mayor Arsenio Climaco of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay was killed in an ambush by motorcycle-riding gunmen.

The floods have hit Digos City, Davao del Sur.

Better late than never. Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro are being sent to Leyte, Samar. They donated their one-day salary to the typhoon victims.

A 12-man medical team for the United Kingdom (UK) has arrived.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) predicted that rice production will be reduced by 10% because of calamities.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares wants VAT collected from foreign donation. This is not right. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon announced no taxes will be imposed by Bureau of Customs (BOC).