Yolanda flattened Iloilo’s 5th district, says Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - The fifth district of Iloilo, home-province of Senate President Franklin Drilon, was “flattened” but is now slowly recovering from the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda.

Drilon made the assessment after he visited the province last weekend to empathize with his province mates. School buildings and health centers suffered severe damage during the typhoon.

“Well, the devastation was very substantial. The local government is in good control of the relief operations. What we now have to work on is the rehabilitation because the damage is extensive. The fifth district is flattened,” Drilon said.

Just like in Leyte and Samar, Drilon said a number of areas have no electricity.

Drilon also expressed concerned about a power barge that was displaced at the height of the typhoon.

“There is a danger that the Napocor barge which was removed from its mooring and was moved to the seashore could have a very dangerous oil leak there, about 2,000 liters,” he said.

To avoid any oil spill, Drilon said they have coordinated with the National Power Corp. to take the lead in handling the problem.

“That barge was already sold to a company although no delivery has yet been made. (They are passing the buck on who should pay for the) expenses to make sure that the oil spill is solved. So, I told Napocor just to do it because we cannot let these legal squabbles stop solving this problem,” he said.

Drilon called on the national government to provide livelihood to fishermen.

“There are about 10,000 fishermen who lost their bancas. We will give them help in terms of rehabilitation,” he said.