Leyte, Samar under State of Emergency: PNoy declares Phl in state of calamity

CEBU, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III yesterday declared a state of national calamity following the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Aquino made the announcement during a televised message last night, a day after coming back from his visit to typhoon-hit Tacloban City.

“Idinedeklara po natin ang state of national calamity upang mapabilis ang mga pagkilos ng pamahalaan para sa pagsagip, paghahatid ng tulong, at rehabilitasyon ng mga probinsyang sinalanta ni Yolanda,” he said.

The President signed Proclamation 628 declaring the state of national calamity on Monday.

The last time Aquino declared a state of national calamity was in 2012, when Typhoon Pablo ravaged the Philippines.

Section 3 of Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 defines a state of calamity as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.”

Aquino, however, said the proclamation will not only control the price of products and services but will also prevent hoarding and overpricing.

According to Proclamation 628, “the state of national calamity shall remain in force and effect until lifted by the President.”

Meanwhile, state of emergency was declared in Tacloban City and the rest of Leyte and Samar yesterday amid incidents of looting following the devastation brought by Yolanda.

“Tacloban City and the rest of Leyte and Samar are under a state of emergency,” Lieutenant Col. Leo Madroñel, spokesperson for the command post created to assess the typhoon’s aftermath, said.

Aside from reports of looting, there were also reports of trucks loaded with relief goods being attacked by unidentified men in other parts of Eastern Visayas that were also severely devastated by “Yolanda,” the strongest recorded in history to make a landfall.

Observers described the situation in Tacloban and other areas hit by the super typhoon as “anarchic” amid scenes of destroyed homes, businesses and blocked streets akin to the apocalypse.

President Aquino, who visited Tacloban last Sunday, was urged to declare martial law in the city.

But Madroñel said, even Governor Dominic Petilla said there is no need for such a declaration.

Madroñel assured that everything is now under control with the hundreds of military and police personnel from the different areas in the Visayas deployed in Leyte to restore peace and order and assist in relief operations.

A provision in the law creating the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) allows the national government to take over if the local government is unable to function during calamities.

Madroñel said that since relief goods are not enough, looting is inevitable.

He said members of the Special Action Force (SAF) were tasked to secure the banks in Tacloban City, which were in danger of being looted by “desperate survivors.”

At 8 a.m. yesterday, at least 10 military and police personnel were deployed outside an MLhuillier Pawnshop after someone reportedly got inside, apparently to take valuables. There were a lot of jewelry pieces inside the pawnshop, as reported.

A survivor even confronted this reporter for coming over without bringing rice or water for them.

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman yesterday spearheaded the distribution of the relief goods and Madroñel said more relief goods are coming, to be delivered by the Philippine Navy and the AFP’s C130 aircrafts.

A relief goods distribution center was already set up yesterday and thousands of survivors lined up and waited the whole day to receive their share of the goods, which may last only for at least three days for a family.

Madroñel said some of the relief goods will be distributed to the 13 evacuation centers all over Tacloban City.

A team from Albay and from Manila was also expected to bring yesterday three water filtration machines.

“Gov.  Petilla offered Pastrana (a municipality in Leyte) para magkuha ta og tubig. 4000 liters of water per hour ang ma-produce ana. Six to ten fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection ang mu-carry ana na mga tubig,” said Madroñel.

The military officer added that they are now also working on clearing the Maharlika Highway so roads can now be passable to Samar and Ormoc City.

As of yesterday, nearly 1,500 people were confirmed dead in the different typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas. The figure is expected to increase, according to authorities.   (FREEMAN)