Gov’t aid efforts roll out

“Help is on the way.”

Malacañang yesterday assured the public that President Aquino, before leaving for Seoul on Thursday, had issued instructions to relevant government agencies to address all the concerns of earthquake victims in Bohol and Cebu provinces.

The President’s spokesman Edwin Lacierda issued the statement as the Aquino administration was swamped with calls for assistance from affected local government units (LGUs) in the two provinces.

“We are in touch with the provincial government, and the national government has been there, and we will continue to pour our efforts to assisting the beleaguered people of Bohol. And, as a fellow Boholano, we will rise,” said Lacierda whose mother was born in Loon, one of the hardest-hit towns in Bohol.

“I’ve also talked to the mayor of Loon, and we already assured the provincial government as well as the local towns that help is on the way,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda added that the government had enough funds—mainly from calamity fund and savings of government pooled under the stimulus mechanism called Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)—for the relief and rehabilitation programs in Western and Central Visayas.

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto said they are trying to open a major access road that will serve as an alternative route to reach towns that are isolated because of the destruction of most roads and bridges.

Chatto said Loon is now the focus of relief and retrieval operations. He said based on their assessment, the towns facing Cebu like Calape, Clarin, Tubigon, Loon, Dauis, Inabangga and Tagbilaran City sustained more damage compared to towns facing Leyte and Mindanao such as Valencia, Jagna, Duero and Mabini.

The Philippine Coast Guard ship, BRP Edsa Dos, was already in Tagbilaran City en route to Loon and other coastal towns in Bohol to transport relief goods, and evacuate or rescue patients stranded in the towns of Maribojoc and Loon. /Inquirer with correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc