26 Octubre,2024 Sabado
supports 35th National Statistics Month October, Advancing data and statistics through digital transformation,a road to empowered nation
supports World Food Day October 16, 2024
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
FMJ orders ‘conveyor belt of aid
By Nidz Godino
“I want to see conveyor belt of aid that is constantly delivering aid to front,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with pleas for help from thousands affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine appearing to overwhelm private and government aid groups, ordered concerned agencies to set up “ conveyor belt of aid” for victims, even as another weather disturbance looms this weekend.
To speed up and streamline disaster response, Marcos directed Cabinet secretaries to lead relief and rehabilitation work in specific areas.
He also ordered Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to immediately release funds “so that needed resources can be procured expeditiously.”
“DSWD ,Department of Social Welfare and Development shall rush to all affected areas to provide relief goods, both pre-positioned and new supplies, to augment those provided by local government units, as soon as weather permits, DSWD will mobilize grant of financial aid under existing government programs”, Chief Executive said.
The President also ordered “full mobilization” of available personnel and resources of Armed Forces of the Philippines for relief operations. Philippine Air Force has deployed three of its C-130 aircraft for delivery of relief supplies to Bicol region.
Other uniformed services such as Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine Coast Guard are placed under same status, he said.
“I have ordered them to deploy vehicles, aircraft, boats, ships and all other transportation assets for, first rescue, and then relief and rehabilitation… includes presidential helicopters,” Marcos said.
He also cancelled all personnel leaves, except for medical reasons and those with humanitarian justifications, in uniformed services.
PNP would utilize three helicopters for search and relief operations, spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said.
“All personnel are required to exert efforts to render humanitarian assistance particularly in affected areas, and mobility assets are ready for deployment if need arises,” Fajardo said.
Fajardo said at least 6,700 police officers were deployed in Bicol, Calabarzon and other areas affected most by Kristine.
At situation briefing at Malacañang, the President said government efforts should focus now on Bicol, area hardest hit by storm.
“I think we continue to concentrate on Region 5 for now because they are ones in most need…everyone is in need but accessibility problem of Region 5 is little bit more pronounced than all other areas,” he said.
Of 36 towns in Camarines Sur, nine remained fully submerged, Marcos said.
According to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Air Force is also assisting in airlifting potable drinking water from Manila Water and Maynilad.
“We have already provided over P111 million in augmentation support to local government units, include not just family food packs , but also non-food items such as family, hygiene, kitchen and sleeping kits; water containers and shelter materials like family tents and modular tents, particularly to our evacuees,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and Disaster Response Management Group head Irene Dumlao said.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro told the President he had instructed Office of Civil Defense (OCD) to find alternative route for vehicles carrying goods, fuel and water from Bondoc Peninsula to Camarines Sur.
Pangandaman told the President that as of Oct. 24, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund has P1.983-billion balance, P1.845 billion could be drawn from 2024 General Appropriations Act and P139 million from 2023 continuing appropriations.
From remaining balance, Pangandaman said there are pending requests for replenishment of Quick Response Fund (QRF), shall be done through issuance of special allotment release orders or SARO, disbursement document of budget department.
Department of Public Works and Highways is requesting replenishment of P1 billion; Department of the Interior and Local Government-Philippine National Police, P25 million and Department of National Defense-OCD, P37.5 million.
She said DPWH-Office of the Secretary still has roughly 60 percent of its QRF fund for usage, while DSWD’s fund is “almost finished.”
“I’m in touch with Sec. Rex and just waiting for request for balance of QRF that you need… more than, roughly I think P500 million… I’m just waiting for letter and then we’ll release it within the day, assuming we need more, Mr. President, we still have… I just received certification from Bureau of Treasury, Department of Finance, for unprogrammed appropriations…so, assuming we need more funding, Mr. President, we can tap unprogrammed appropriations” Pangandaman said,
Also at briefing, acting Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said Small Business (SB) Corp. , financing arm of Department of Trade and Industry has allotted P2 billion for lending to help MSMEs affected by Kristine to recover.
“Lot of businesses are destroyed, lot of businesses are affected…so what do we do after…sometimes we always think of what happens during situation…but after is also very important situation that we must look at, which is how do businesses be able to move on,” she said.
She said small business can avail itself up to P300,000 worth of loan under SB Corp.’s enterprise rehabilitation financing. Borrowers will not be required to have collateral under this facility.
“You just have to prove you have business that is operating and for this time, you are part of region or you’re part of the town affected by typhoon, so for businesses affected, please avail of this fund,” Roque said.
She said loans are interest-free for first year. For second year, there will be one percent interest rate per month. .
Aside from helping MSMEs, she said DTI continues to monitor price and supply of basic necessities in typhoon-hit areas.
A 60-day price freeze on basic necessities is in effect in areas that have been declared under state of calamity.
She said DTI is also coordinating with supermarkets to make sure basic necessities and food products are available.
“We will really go after those that are profiteering from this calamity, we will do everything we can to be able to make businesses especially MSMEs bounce back from this.”” she said.
After situation briefing, Marcos boarded helicopter to inspect flooding in parts of Metro Manila, Cavite and Batangas.
He was joined by some Cabinet officials, including Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
During situation briefing, weather forecaster Jun Galang of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that another tropical cyclone was expected to enter the country this weekend.
“So, possible it will move closer to the country by next week, either Oct. 29 or 30, it will have close approach in Northern Luzon,” Galang said.
He said PAGASA was looking at two scenarios for new cyclone: one is it will “recurve” and the other is it will move toward extreme Northern Luzon.
Marcos expressed sympathy for victims of Kristine and commended “resilience, leadership and proactive” measures taken by LGUs for their constituents.
Kristine left 46 persons dead, seven injured and 20 missing based on latest data from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
ISKUP! 