State of national calamity?declared

MANILA, Philippines - With many areas still cut off and people resorting to looting as supplies run low in typhoon-hit areas, President Aquino yesterday declared a state of national calamity.

The declaration will enable the government to respond more effectively to the devastation from monster Typhoon Yolanda that whipped Eastern Visayas last Friday.

In a televised address, Aquino appealed for public understanding as he announced that the national government would take the lead in efforts to help the victims instead of just assisting local officials.

Noting that the devastation was massive, the President said some local governments were “paralyzed” by the typhoon despite the preparations undertaken.

Aquino said 22 countries had pledged to help and that P18.2 billion in savings, calamity and contingency funds had been identified and could be utilized to rebuild Tacloban City and other disaster-hit areas.

He also approved the release of P1.1 billion in quick response funds for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately bring relief to the victims of the tragedy.

In Proclamation No. 682 that he issued, Aquino said the state of national calamity would hasten the rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including international humanitarian assistance.

“This declaration will, among others, effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas and afford government ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds to provide assistance and services to the people.”

Aside from overpricing, hoarding of vital products must also be avoided, he said.

“Like you, I also want to know what we can do to prevent similar situations in these areas in the future,” Aquino said.

Proclamation 682 was in accordance with Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

All departments and agencies were tasked to provide assistance and services.

“Law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces, are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas, as may be necessary,” Aquino said in his proclamation.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 56, the departments and agencies were also tasked by the President to help in running localities affected in the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Palawan.

Aquino said the loss of life and the destruction the typhoon caused were huge.

“In the coming days, be assured: help will reach you faster and faster. My appeal to you all is: Remaining calm, praying, cooperating with, and assisting one another are the things that will help us rise from this calamity,” he said.

“Aid is also arriving from other countries; 22 countries have pledged their assistance, including Indonesia, America, England, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Hungary. The private sector is also finding different ways to help our countrymen recover, such as restoring telecommunications and the supply of oil to affected areas,” the President said.

Earlier, lawmakers from Leyte appealed to President Aquino to consider declaring a state of national calamity to allow the government to mobilize resources to help the country recover quickly from the string of natural and man-made calamities.

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said members of the independent bloc in the House of Representatives which he heads and lawmakers from the province filed a resolution urging Aquino to make such a declaration, especially because there have been numerous reports of increasing lawlessness in areas devastated by Yolanda.

Bathroom break

Malacañang denied reports that President Aquino walked out of his own briefing in Tacloban City last Sunday after local officials allegedly pressured him into declaring martial law there following reports of massive looting.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a news briefing yesterday that Aquino merely “took a bathroom break” for about 10 minutes when national and local disaster officials were discussing ways to help the typhoon victims.

“There was no walkout. In fact, after that break, he returned and the discussions went on and lasted for another hour,” he said, quoting the narration of Assistant Secretary for Media Affairs Rey Marfil who accompanied Aquino.

“As per the account of Assistant Secretary Marfil, the President was not angry. He just took a break,” Lacierda said.

Taking a break during long and grueling discussions is “normal” for Aquino, Lacierda added.

He said Aquino was surprised when he was informed of the walkout issue.

Meanwhile, Romualdez said yesterday there should be no controversy over the reported walkout of President Aquino during the briefing.

He did not confirm or deny that the President walked out of the meeting, but said maybe Aquino was not yet updated on the magnitude of Yolanda’s damage.

No justification

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, for her part, yesterday opposed calls for President Aquino to declare martial law in Tacloban City amid reports of the breakdown of law and order among desperate survivors of Yolanda.

De Lima said there is no need for the Chief Executive to resort to military rule to address the aftermath of the calamity, including reported looting of commercial and residential establishments in the area.

“I believe there are enough powers allotted by the Constitution and the laws to the national government, specifically the President, in addressing the situation in the Yolanda-devastated areas, including breakdown of law and order, of lawless violence and the like,” she told reporters.

De Lima also stressed that the declaration reportedly proposed by local officials cannot be legally justified under the present circumstances.

“Under the Constitution, martial law is confined to only two cases or situations – invasion or rebellion. I don’t think either situation currently exists,” she said.

Palace sources told The STAR that declaring martial law was never even considered.

Caution in reporting

Aquino also appealed to the media to be more careful in reporting fatality figures.

He said they have not received reports that thousands have died because of the typhoon.

“If I may appeal, let us reduce the anxiety of those who have relatives in the affected areas by not exaggerating the figures,” he said.

The President called on the public to wait for the validated figures on casualties from local governments and disaster management officials.

– With Delon Porcalla, Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe