Around 30 individuals are staying in a makeshift tent on Thursday, July 28 in Lagangilang, Abra following the magnitude 7 earthquake. Photo by Daniza Fernandez
President Marcos on Thursday met with national and local officials in Abra and led the distribution of relief goods to victims of the strong earthquake that jolted the province and nearby areas.
“Those in the evacuation centers, we are assuring you that all your needs while you are here would be met—food and whatever you need,” the President said in his remarks at the Bangued town plaza in Abra, where modular tents were set up for the victims.
Mr. Marcos left Manila for Abra at around 8 a.m. and was joined in the provincial capital by Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, acting Defense Secretary Jose Faustino Jr., Speaker Martin Romualdez and Sen. Imee Marcos.
He presided over a briefing at Camp Juan Villamor, receiving updates on ongoing disaster management and relief efforts.
Coordinate with LGUs
Mr. Marcos also conducted an aerial inspection of the damaged areas in the province and visited the Abra Provincial Hospital to check the condition of wounded earthquake survivors.
At the briefing, the President instructed national officials to work with their local counterparts to expedite aid distribution and the restoration of power, water and telecom services.
“[P]lease coordinate closely with the local governments… to maximize the use of your assets,” he said.
He also called on government engineers and building officials to assist by inspecting houses and buildings for damage once the aftershocks have ceased. The inspection of hospitals and health centers should be prioritized, he added.
Helping hand
Abra Vice Gov. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos told the President that many people were still afraid to return to their houses and have been sleeping on their yards and on the streets.
Speaking for the House of Representatives, Romualdez said funds would be set aside in the national budget to repair damaged infrastructure.
House members are urged to conduct their own damage assessment in their districts in preparation for future budget hearings.
The people of Bohol, where a magnitude 7.2 earthquake killed at least 222 people in 2013, as well as Cebuanos offered a helping hand to Abra and other affected parts of Luzon.
Anthony Damalerio, head of the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the province was preparing to send search, rescue and retrieval teams to Abra.
In a Facebook post, Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado called on his constituents “to contribute and… help our brothers and sisters” in the calamity-hit northern provinces.
In Cebu, local officials said they would also send a team from its disaster office to help Abra.
Disaster response agency
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he would check if the city has extra funds that could be donated.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan also pledged to send local rescue teams to Abra.
At the President’s briefing in Abra, also raised was the proposal to create a disaster response agency with broader scope and authority. Senator Marcos, however, said forming a new commission or authority under the Office of the President would be suffice, instead of a full-fledged department. Agreeing with his elder sister, the President said such an agency would not be formulating policies but only implement emergency and disaster responses, such as rescue missions.
One “good model,” he said, would be the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is under the Department of Homeland Security.
Romualdez said he supported Senator Marcos’ proposal to allocate restoration funds and create an agency under the OP for the prompt use of resources for calamity areas.
Meanwhile, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte pushed for the immediate passage of a bill creating a Department of Disaster Resilience. —WITH REPORTS FROM LEO UDTOHAN AND DALE ISRAEL
