VP De Castro orders nat'l agencies to coordinate with LGUs
Vice President Noli De Castro yesterday ordered the national government agencies to coordinate with local government units affected by typhoon Frank to speed up the release of any assistance to them. De Castro specifically scored the lousy response made by the National Food Authority (NFA) to the local government units.
De Castro was accompanied by Senators Mar Roxas, Richard Gordon, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral and Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to assess the damage brought about by the flash floods in the entire region.
The national government officials brought relief goods for the affected victims in the city as well as in the province of Iloilo. The national officials had a brief meeting with city and municipal officials on the damage caused by flash floods in the properties, lives, infrastructure and agriculture.
During the briefing, De Castro got irked when he learned that NFA officials have yet to release sacks of rice for the immediate needs of the affected families. He called an NFA official via mobile phone and ordered the release of rice for the needy local government units. It was not immediately known on whether it was NFA OIC Regional Director Vilma Zarraga or Provincial Officer Heddy Jardeleza.
The NFA failed to release the sacks of rice though they have some 160,000 rice of bags available in their warehouse. It was learned that NFA's compound in Jaro was also penetrated by flash floods, thus they could not release any stock to the requesting agency.
De Castro apparently irritated with the explanation of the NFA official, retorted that they should coordinate with local government units for the transfer of the sacks of rice in the different bodegas for immediate disposal.
"The only problem they have is the warehouse where to keep their sacks of rice. Time is of the essence and they should move immediately. Nothing will happen if they will not act. Now is the time and not tomorrow," said De Castro.
The vice president also tasked RDCC chair Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas to coordinate with the NFA officials for the transfer and release of rice from the NFA warehouse in Jaro to the respective local government units. As of yesterday afternoon, the NFA started to release bags of rice.
Moreover, De Castro was also surprised when he heard the briefing of Office of the Civil Defense Assistant Regional Director Eligio Calaor on the damaged brought by the flash floods on infrastructure projects. In the briefing, Calaor reported that the damage in the infrastructure in the entire region is only P73.430 million.
Prior to his trip to Iloilo, De Castro was informed by DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane that the damage in the infrastructure in Iloilo reached to P500 million.
The vice president assured of help from the national government as soon as they have rendered their assessment in the city, province and entire Western Visayas devastated by the typhoon. He will also coordinate with Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and the National Power Corporation to energize the city and all affected areas.
De Castro and his group brought some six to eight trucks of goods including medicines, clothing, food and three rubberized inflatable boats. They have also brought water purifiers for the evacuees of the city.
City officials are contemplating of placing one water purifier in Jaro gymnasium where many evacuees are recorded.
De Castro and his team proceeded to the towns of Leon, Alimodian, Sta. Barbara and Pavia after the short briefing at the Iloilo airport to distribute the goods. The remaining goods will be brought to the DSWD regional office that serves as the center for the distribution of goods. The supply will be given to the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Antique and Negros Occidental.
On his part, Secretary Duque also ordered the regional health office to provide the medicine needs of the victims including shots of tetanus toxoid. He likewise reminded health officials to monitor the disease that might occur after the flood such as leptospirosis and dengue particularly in the town of Pavia.
Pavia is one of the hardly hit towns in the province other than Janiuay. Duque also asked the flood victims to avoid drinking unsanitary water and cooked their food properly to avoid any flood-related disease.
The health department will also make assessment in the Janiuay District Hospital after it submerged in floodwaters. An official is tasked to check whether the hospital should be constructed anew on a different site, said Duque.