Cabinet meeting whole day today for post-storm rehab plan

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III said the Cabinet is meeting the entire day on Monday to discuss the rehabilitation plan for parts of the country devastated by typhoons “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) and “Quiel” (international name: Nalgae) which struck just days of each other.

“The Cabinet will meet this morning and afternoon as (secretaries) will be discussing the rehabilitation plan—how we will bring back roads that were cut off; landslides that needed to be cleared; bringing back of power 100 percent …,” the President  told reporters on Monday after leading the oathtaking rites of some officials in the Palace.

Mr. Aquino said Cabinet secretaries will also make an assessment of the rice situation in the country in the aftermath of the strong typhoons that flooded the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Pangasinan and so far left 55 people dead.

He said he hoped the assessment and rehabilitation plan will be completed by the Cabinet on Monday so that “I could … visit the affected provinces.”

“And I hope the new storm coming in will not add to the devastation,” the President said, referring to another weather disturbance that may pass the same areas battered by Pedring and Quiel.

Weather forecasters have been keeping an eye on the weather disturbance, which they said could enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday as a low-pressure area or tropical depression that would be called “Ramon,”

Mr. Aquino said he had tried to get in touch with the local officials of all the devastated areas and the priority is that he be informed about the worst problems.

He also defended the preparations made by the government, telling a reporter that her media colleagues had been pointing out the “big difference of (disaster) preparations of our government.”

“But like anything made by man, we can improve so we are looking for ways and means to improve it,” Mr. Aquino said.