President promises bunkhouses and seeds for ‘Yolanda’ victims

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Capping a three-day inspection tour, President Aquino on Tuesday promised bunkhouses and agricultural seeds during a visit to two more typhoon-stricken towns in Eastern Visayas.

“He saw the improvements in the situation since last week. He also had things to attend to this week,” Ricky Carandang, a Palace spokesman, said in an ambush interview.

Aquino left on a Learjet plane before 4 p.m. without facing the media.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the President gave no fresh instructions except to fine-tune the “supply chain,” referring to the distribution of relief from three hubs in the provinces of Leyte and Samar.

Empty-handed

The President went to Basey, a town in Samar heavily devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

People rushed to the town center expecting to get relief from the President himself.

However, Aquino only led the ceremonial relief distribution, as what happened in Tacloban City on Sunday, and in Palo and Alangalang municipalities, also in Leyte, on Monday.

Typhoon survivors in Basey went home empty-handed. A truckload of sacks of food packs was entrusted by the social welfare department to the local government for distribution later on.

No cell signals

Aquino and his entourage proceeded by helicopter to Ormoc City.

Some residents of Basey turned to reporters, who had been trailing the President since Sunday, for help.

Besides asking for food and water, they wanted to get in touch with their relatives in other parts of the country, particularly in Cebu and Manila, because cellular phone signals were still unstable.

197 bodies

In an impromptu speech in Basey, the President said he had a brief meeting with local officials on the need to begin planning for the rehabilitation of two barangays (villages) in the coastal town, which were obliterated by storm surges on Nov. 8.

At least 197 bodies have been recovered, so far, in Barangays Poblacion and San Antonio.

The President said the government had identified a vacant lot where bunkhouses could be built for those rendered homeless.

To help residents get back on their feet, Aquino promised to provide agricultural seeds to coconut farmers and fishermen.

Sleeping mats

“We’ve included some sleeping mats and tarpaulin to cover your ceilings,” the President also said.

He said the people should expect “certified seeds” from the agriculture department in time for the planting season.

“I came here to check your situation and ensure that you’re taken care of,” he said, adding: “We won’t stop until your condition improves.”