President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—After meeting with select members of the Cabinet Friday afternoon, President Aquino ordered the release of P365 million to the Philippine Air Force for search and rescue efforts in the wake of Supertyphoon ‘‘Yolanda’’.
He also directed the immediate restoration of power and cell sites in the Visayas , the removal of trees and other debris blocking roads and assessment of damage caused by the typhoon as well as speeding up the distribution of relief to typhoon victims.
He also directed the Department of Science and Technology to find an all-weather communication system after Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whom he had sent to Leyte to oversee rescue and relief work, were incommunicado for hours on Friday.
Palace officials both managed to eventually report to President Aquino by satellite phone late Friday afternoon.