P-Noy on top of Sabah crisis

MANILA, Philippines - The government on Tuesday assured  the public that there is more than enough food supply for the evacuees coming in droves from Sabah to parts of Mindanao, particularly Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga.

In a media briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City, heads of the different government agencies, such as the departments of Interior and Local,  Agriculture and Social Welfare, said the Aquino administration is prepared for any eventualities and concerns  arising from the ongoing crisis in Sabah.

"The President (Benigno Aquino III) is on top of the situation," Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the government has been continuously sending supplies to various parts of Mindanao where Filipino evacuees from Sabah have been arriving.

"Sa pagkakataon pong ito, tayo ay mayroong sapat na stock na naroon ngayon pero hindi po kami tumitigil. Sa katunayan po ay araw-araw ay patuloy na nagpapadala ng bigas sa bandang Sulu mula sa Zamboanga," Alcala said.

He added that the department is looking at sending about 100,000 sacks of rice coming from National Capital Region and Region 4.

Roxas said that to ensure that the food and water supply reaches their destination in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi, the Maritime Industry Authority will tap the services of various commercial shipping firms to deliver the goods to these areas.

Marina administrator Nic Conti said that aside from delivering other logistics and supply to the affected areas, the commercial sea vessels will also ferry people who want to go back to their relatives in Mindanao.