Luzon officially placed under state of calamity after recent typhoons
MANILA, Philippines — The entire Luzon recently hit hard by strong typhoons that submerged provinces and left millions affected was officially placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday.
Two typhoons — Quinta and Ulysses, as well as Super Typhoon Rolly, ravaged the island in a short period of time from end-October to the middle of this month, leaving regions such as Bicol and Cagayan reeling from the damage.
President Rodrigo Duterte's Wednesday declaration will "hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts" of government and private groups as well as control the price of basic goods in typhoon-hit areas.
It will also allow local governments to tap funds for rescue and rebuilding efforts, as well as continue giving basic services to those affected.
"All departments and other concerned government agencies are hereby directed to implement and execute rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives," read Presidential Proclamation no. 1051.
State forces and other law enforcement agencies were also tasked to ensure peace and order in the areas affected. The state of calamity, the proclamation added, will remain in effect until lifted by Duterte.
Figures by the NDRRMC by Wednesday showed that the cost of Ulysses' damage has reached P5.7 billion for infrastructure and P2.8 billion.
It has affected over 3.4 million individuals and left more than 223,000 still in evacuation shelters, while the death count is at 73, 24 injured and 19 missing.
Rolly, meanwhile, the world's strongest storm this 2020, had about P12.8 billion in damage to infrastructure and P5 billion to crops. Its casualties were put at 25, with nearly 400 injured and six missing.
Quinta was responsible for 27 deaths, 40 injured and four missing, with damage to infrastructure at over P1 billion and agriculture at P2.6 billion.
Duterte had since formed a multi-agency task force led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that would oversee rehabilitation efforts in the said areas.
The administration's response to these calamities had met criticism, so much that it had taken airtime in Duterte's weekly addresses.
Tensions between the president and Vice President Leni Robredo had since escalated, with Duterte erroneously claiming that it was Robredo who sought for his whereabouts amid the storms despite the calls coming from the public.
RELATED: Robredo: Duterte given false info on #NasaanAngPangulo
As the Philippine leader was lashing out on Robredo's response to the typhoons in last night's address, the vice president took to Twitter to respond to the allegations, calling him out for falling for false information as well as for his misogynistic remarks.
"There is no space for our ego when lives are at stake," Robredo wrote on the social media platform. "Sa panahon ng matinding sakuna, dapat lahat ng tulong, welcome. Hindi ito contest. Hindi tayo nag uunahan."
Follow this page for updates on typhoon relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines. Image by AFP/Charism Sayat.
The Philippine Coast Guard says it has transported 3,264.9 tons of relief goods and critical supplies on its vessels and aircraft to help with rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Odette last December.
The Coast Guard began transporting emergency supplies on December 19, 2021.
COVID-19 facilities damaged by recent typhoons should be repaired as soon as possible, Sen. Risa Hontiveros says Monday as she called for additional funding for this in the 2021 budget of the Department of Health.
Hontiveros says an increase in the DOH budget would go to rebuilding typhoon-hit facilities in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and Albay that have been rendered "completely non-functional".
She adds: "Testing and isolation are two of the most important steps in our fight against COVID-19. Any delay in the restoration of these facilities could be a major setback in our progress. The additional budget means there should be no excuses for inaction."
Akbayan visit barangays Nangka and Tumana in Marikina on Tuesday to distribute food packs to families affected by Typhoon Ulysses earlier this month.
At the food distribution were Akbayan Youth Chair RJ Naguit as well as Miss Philippines-Earth 2020 title holders Gianna Llanes, Quintana Tormes and candidate Iris Marie Mabanta.
Chinese social media giant TikTok pledges to donate approximately P15 million ($300,000) to relief efforts following typhoons that struck the Philippines.
Half of the donation will be allocated to the Philippine Red Cross for their efforts of providing hot meals and other urgent necessities in typhoon-hit areas.
"TikTok’s donation will surely go a long way in further strengthening PRC’s humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those who were impacted by the recent calamities. You can be sure the Red Cross will continue to be there for the people affected," Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the PRC, says.
President Duterte's chief legal counsel has advised Vice President Leni Robredo not to publicize her aid distribution and to just let people she helped to spread the word about her activities.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who recently apologized to Robredo for reacting to false information about her relief efforts, said the vice president need not inform the media about her aid distribution because local residents would talk about it.
RELATED: Panelo told to 'get facts straight' over claim Robredo rode government plane to Bicol
"If you are there, people (would) talk about it and word will spread that you have been there. It will reach the ears of those who are appreciative of what you are doing," Panelo said during his television program on state media last Friday.
Robredo has said that her team posts updates on relief operations so donors and partners will know that their help is reaching those who need it. She also said that the updates are to reassure people that they have been heard.
Whenever we get updates from the ground, we share them with the public. It is important to assure those who are distressed that (1) we heard you; (2) help is coming; (3) we are doing all we can to save you.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
"You do not have to broadcast every move, every help you want to give to the people. Mas maganda yung tahimik lang (It would be better if you do it quietly)," Panelo said. — The STAR/Alexis Romero
- Latest
- Trending
