Odette sends thousands into evacuation centers
SOME 570,000 out of the 4,200,000 individuals affected by Typhoon “Odette” are now being sheltered in 1,179 evacuation centers which the government placed under monitoring and utmost care.
According to Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, concerned agencies are now focused on the six regions, 14 provinces and 222 cities and municipalities severely affected by Odette.
In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Ano said appropriate government assistance have been handed out in these areas or to the distressed families.
As of Monday, the DILG chief said there were at least 21 flooded areas along with damaged bridges and roads still unfunctional not to mention the seaports and airports that remain not operational.
Uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) according to Ano, have joined hands in search and rescue operations.
The PNP has deployed 4,000 personnel while the BFP had its 10,500 men ready for search, rescue, relief and clearing operations.
Fire trucks, rescue trucks and other equipment needed for clean works were also made available while medical assistanced, water rationing and feeding programs were provided by the BFP in hard-hit areas.
Ano said that on orders of the President, the DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of National Defense (DND) met on Dec. 24 and came up with a Joint Memorandum Circular that will serve as guide to the ayuda (cash aid) distribution worth more or less P4 million.
Citing a report, the DILG chief said that the Department of Budget Management (DBM) was set to release the budget today (December 28).
It will be the AFP and the PNP to provide assistance in the monetary distribution of far-flung areas, specifically in the isolated places as some of them are still inaccessible due to the severe damage brought by the typhoon.
Ano promised to account fully all cash distribution aids as he warned charges against those committing abusive and corrupt acts in these times of calamity.
