ASSURANCE
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has called for calm amidst the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Egay to many provinces in Northern Luzon.
He assured the local government units (LGus) that the national government is doing everything in its power to provide assistance to typhoon victims.
“President Marcos is doing everything he can to assist, help and provide assistance to Super Typhoon Egay victims. We want to make sure that at this time of extreme need, the people should feel that their government is with them,” Romualdez said.
“We have already raised funds for relief, and we are trying to raise more. We expressed gratitude to all first responders. What is important is we help bring back the lives of victims to normalcy,” he added.
Romualdez is set to visit Friday parts of the affected areas of the typhoon when he arrives from Malaysia to personally see the devastation wrought by Egay and join relief operations.
The fundraising efforts initiated by the Speaker and Tingog Party-list led by Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre have already reached P128.5 million in relief goods and financial assistance.
“Special thanks also goes to the government officials, first responders and volunteers who are doing their best to respond to the disaster and save lives. Your volunteerism will not go unrecognized,” Romualdez said.
“This is the same Bayanihan spirit that allowed Tacloban City and the Eastern seaboard to recover and bounce back from Super Typhoon Yolanda almost 10 years ago.
Truly when we are united in our objectives, there is nothing we can’t do,” Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez for her part said.
P23.5 million of the P128.5 million raised comes from Speaker Romualdez’s personal calamity fund, raised partly from contributions from friends during his birthday celebration last year.
The other P105 million will come from DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program under Sec. Rex Gatchalian.
In a related story, Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap said the province was severely hit by Typhoon Egay.
As he sent pictures of the effects of the typhoon and appealed to the national government for immediate aid for the victims.
Based on unofficial reports, already hundreds of people in Benguet have been evacuated.
ABALOS TO LGUs: STAY VIGILANT
“Egay” is already out of the country but Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said there is still the need to be vigilant against any eventuality that may occur as he advised governors and mayor down to the barangay captains especially in directly-affected areas not to lower their guards.
According to the weather bureau, Egay still brings heavy rainfall most particularly in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Batanes and Babuyan Island while heading towards China.
Abalos urged local government units (LGUs) to stay in their posts as the fifth typhoon continues to enhance the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat bringing rains in these areas and nearby provinces to include Metro Manila.
During an emergency meeting by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which Abalos co-chaired, it was reported that the majority of the provinces in the path of Egay have implemented their respective pre-disaster response and mitigation measures within their area of jurisdiction.
But then again, Abalos said this is still not the time to lower everyone’s guard citing PAGASA’s advice that Egay will continue to enhance Habagat and will bring higher rainfall in elevated or mountainous areas to which flooding and rain-induced landslides are highly likely.
DHSUD SHELTER CLUSTER TEAM ACTIVATED
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Wednesday activated its local shelter cluster teams in regions affected by super typhoon “Egay.”
DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar approved the recommendation made by Undersecretary Lyle Pasco and Assistant Secretary Daryll Bryan Villanueva, who are in-charge of DHSUD’s regional operations, to activate DHSUD’s shelter cluster teams in 12 regions throughout the country.
Acuzar said the activation of the teams was a proactive measure to ensure the readiness of concerned Regional Offices (ROs) for any eventuality.
Among the activated shelter cluster teams were in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10. All regional directors of concerned areas were directed to closely monitor the situation within their areas of responsibility.
As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the NDRRMC reported that 328,356 persons in 11 regions were affected by “Egay.”
A total of 6,793 persons were preemptively evacuated from Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, MIMAROPA, Region 6 while there are 26,697 persons displaced.
During calamities, DHSUD local shelter teams are closely working with the Office of Civil Defense, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and other concerned government agencies to harmonize efforts in providing assistance to affected families, especially those who were displaced. With Joel dela Torre, Jun I. Legaspi
