GMA vows rehab funds for Lucena, Calapan

President Arroyo pledged additional funding for the rehabilitation of the cities of Lucena and Calapan in Quezon and Oriental Mindoro, respectively, which are both under a state of calamity due to flash floods that affected thousands of people.

Mrs. Arroyo flew to Calapan City on Wednesday afternoon to personally distribute relief goods to evacuees and met with local officials to find out what could be done to help them.

Officials said Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rodolfo Valencia and Gov. Arnan Panaligan would release P5 million each for the flood victims and for rehabilitation work.

They said the President promised to provide more funds if the local governments’ allocations would not suffice.

The northeastern part of Mindoro island bore the brunt of flooding caused by heavy rains with at least 66,000 people forced to evacuate from their homes, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

The flooding spread to other neighboring towns as a protective dike collapsed in Barangay Del Pilar, Naujan town.

Landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains killed at least two residents of Pagbilao town in Quezon.

Other landslides were reported in remote villages in Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, but there were no casualties, the OCD said.

The Air Force has deployed two teams from the 505th Search and Rescue Group and two helicopters in Oriental Mindoro to assist local authorities.

Calapan City Mayor Carlos Brucal appealed for help for his constituents in an interview on radio station dzBB.

He said at least 48 barangays of the city, including the city proper, were heavily flooded, making it difficult to send relief goods to outlying villages.

Brucal said the floodwaters continued to rise due to the dike’s collapse in Naujan town.

During her visit, the President assured the affected folk of the government’s assistance through the social welfare and health departments and other concerned agencies.

The President instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Armed Forces corps of engineers to study the use of coconut fiber to prevent soil erosion and flash floods.

She said it is ironic that China is importing coconut fiber from the Philippines, but the technology is not being applied locally.

Coconut fiber is being used to prevent soil erosion in waterways, exposed areas and uplands. — With Arnell Ozaeta and Rainier Allan Ronda