Aquino recalls major disasters in fifth Sona
President Aquino receives an applause from the audience along witn Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte after his State of the Nation Address at Session Hall of Cangress, Batasan Hills, Quezon City. EDWIN BACASMAS
MANILA, Philippines—The supposed speedy response to disaster and crisis took a huge bite in President Benigno Aquino III’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), as he boasted of the country’s achievements in the aftermath of the three major disasters – an earthquake, a monster typhoon, and a rebel siege – that rocked the country the past year.
Aquino cited the government’s speedy rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of the Zamboanga City siege on September, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol in October, and the Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that flattened coastal towns in November.
Zamboanga crisis
Aquino said Zamboanga City is now entering its recovery and reconstruction stage just months after the siege, led by rogue members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
The president said the government targets to finish 7,176 houses for displaced residents due to the conflict.
Meanwhile, the government gave 661 families at least P30,000 each to rebuild their houses.
The government has also allocated P3.5 billion for the recovery, P2.57 billion of which were already released to the National Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said.
Bohol earthquake
Aquino said after the siege, the country again suffered a blow with the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and nearby provinces.
Aquino said a week after the quake, the government was able to restore electricity in Tagbilaran City and all municipalities in Bohol.
He also said one in 25 bridges affected by the earthquake has been renovated.
The government has released P3.583 billion for the rehabilitation of Bohol and Cebu, P2.49 billion of which were released to the Department of the Interior and Local Government for infrastructure building.
Yolanda
Not a month after the earthquake, the country suffered the worst disaster that hit the country in recent history – Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” which flattened coastal towns mostly in Eastern Visayas and claimed over 6,000 lives.
Aquino said the government had a hard time in the initial phases of relief drive due to blocked streets, lack of communication signal, and damaged infrastructures.
He said a day after Yolanda hit, the government was able to deploy three C-130s to respond to the disaster.
A gasoline station was also opened in Leyte just a day after the typhoon hit, Aquino added.
He said at least 3,562 cubic meters of debris were cleared in 3,426 kilometers of roads.
December was also merry for Yolanda victims as power in all disaster-hit areas was restored in time for Christmas, Aquino said.
Build back better
Aquino said his task for recovery and rehabilitation efforts does not stop at their initial achievements.
He added that the destruction of Hurricane Katrina and the Chile earthquake took years for the rehabilitation stage.
Aquino boasted that in the aftermath of Yolanda, the government reached the stage of recovery just eight months after the storm hit according to the United Nations.
“Hindi pa po tapos ang aking trabaho. Marami pang bahay ang kailangang ipatayo. Patuloy pa rin ang build back better,” Aquino said.
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