PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good morning. This is the NDRRMC emergency meeting to assess the situation that was brought about by Typhoon Enteng. We will start with the prayer. Who will lead us? Go ahead.
[Prayer]
Thank you, Sec Rex. Now to PAGASA. It’s always going to give the first report that we are getting. Could you give us – well nakalagay dito weather update, dam status, and flood forecasting. Let’s just see. Yeah, weather update unahin natin ‘yan. Kung saan dumaan ‘yung bagyo, kung saan ‘yung naging critical area, kung nasaan na ‘yung bagyo ngayon, saan dumaan… Basically outside — lumabas na eh ‘di ba sa area of responsibility? So kung saan dumaan, ano ‘yung areas na tinamaan and what was the situation in terms of wind speed, in terms of the amount of rain that was received. So, please go ahead.
PAGASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MARCELINO VILLAFUERTE II: Thank you very much po, Mr. President, and good morning po. Sa kasalukuyan po ay ang Severe Tropical Storm Enteng ay nasa 300 kilometers west northwest ng Laoag City, Ilocos Sur. Ito po ay may taglay na lakas ng hanging malapit sa gitna 100 kilometers per hour. And then may pagbugso ito na umaabot ng 125 kilometers per hour at kumikilos west northwest sa mabagal na pagkilos po.
Kanina pong alas-kwatro ng madaling araw ay lumabas na po ito ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility. Subalit kung mapapansin po natin dito sa satellite images na ito ay ito pong malaking lugar sa ating – particularly sa Luzon ay mayroon natatabunan pa ng red shadings, ibig sabihin po ito ay may mga malalakas na pag-ulang daladala.
Kaugnay po nito nagpalabas na tayo ng ating forecast track. Kung mapapansin po natin by 2 p.m. [Sorry. Apologies po nabago po yata ‘yung naka-share na screen? Currently po I am sharing my screen. Sorry.]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: What we have is the participants in the Zoom meeting. What we need is the update.
[Official: Pwede na po siyang mag-share screen] Ah nasa iyo na? Okay.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: My sincere apologies po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s okay. Just keep going.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Okay po. So ito na po ‘yung current na forecast track ng bagyong si Severe Tropical Storm Enteng. By 2 p.m. today, ito po ay kumikilos po westward so medyo lalayo pa po ito ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility. And then by 2 p.m. tomorrow, nasa West Philippine Sea pa rin po ito. And then eventually by 2 a.m. September 7, roughly nandoon po ito sa southern part or portion ng China, and then eventually going towards sa northern portion ng Vietnam.
And kaugnay po nito ay mayroon tayong ni-release na weather advisory No. 8. Ito po ay kaugnay doon sa pinagibayong habagat po. As of today, inaasahan po natin na ang Severe Tropical Storm Enteng ay magdadala ng heavy to intense rains about 100 to 200 millimeters over areas of Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro. While moderate to heavy rains about 50 to 100 millimeters of rain sa northern Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, kasama po tayo dito sa Metro Manila, sa Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, La Union, and Benguet.
And then by tomorrow, may heavy to intense rains pa rin about 100 to 200 millimeters sa Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro. While moderate to heavy rains ang inaasahan naman natin sa northern Palawan, including Calamian, Cuyo, Cagayancillo Islands, kasama po tayo sa Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.
And then by Friday, roughly mag-i-improve po nang kaunti ang ating weather conditions moderate to heavy rains na lang ang inaasahan natin sa Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, and Bataan.
And ito po ‘yung forecast track natin, animated forecast track natin kasama po ‘yung ulan na daladala nitong si Severe Tropical Storm Enteng habang ito ay kumikilos papalayo ng ating bansa. And kaugnay po nung na-observe natin na track po nitong si Tropical Storm Enteng, ito po ‘yung by September 1, noong September 1 po 11 a.m. ito po ay namuo nga bilang isang tropical depression at pinangalanan nating si Enteng. So ganito po ‘yung kanyang naging pagkilos. September 2, Monday noong 11 a.m., ito po ay nasa malapit sa Polillo Islands and then later that night, ito po ay nag-landfall sa Aurora, located — or also proceeded to Isabela area. And then ito po September 3 ay nasa West Philippine Sea na. Ayan po. And then ‘yung mga naging pag-ulan po na daladala nitong si Enteng noong August 31, inulan po ang maraming lugar sa Eastern Visayas; ganoon din sa Central Visayas, some areas there; and then some portions of Bicol region. And then noong September 1 po ito po ‘yung may mga pula tayong makikita, nakita po natin nagkaroon ng malakas na pag-ulan sa gawing Bicol region, ganoon din po some areas pa rin sa northern Samar. Iyon po ‘yung may mga orange areas na shaded regions.
Ganoon din po may mga ilang lugar na nakaranas na rin ng about itong yellow shaded regions about 60 to 100 millimeters of rain sa eastern section po ng Luzon. And then noong September 2, ito na po nasa malaking bahagi naman po ng Luzon, sa Central Luzon and even Dagupan area, Ilocos ay may mga pag-ulan din pong naranasan. Ganoon din po sa some areas in Quezon province.
And then September 3, ito na po sa western section more of Region I and also some areas in Zambales have experienced significant amount of rainfall.
And kaugnay po nito ay ito po ‘yung status ng ating mino-monitor na dams. Actually currently po ang areas of concern natin ay itong Ipo Dam. Mayroon siyang nakabukas na isang gate. Ang level niya currently ay about 0.7 meters po ‘yung nakabukas dito, one gate siya. As of 8 a.m. ngayon ay 100.59 kasi ang kanyang water level. And then sa La Mesa Dam po, currently ay nasa at 8 a.m. ito po ay 80.2 ang kanyang elevation. So mayroon po siyang — o nag-o-overflow po siya currently ito pong ating La Mesa Dam. Okay.
And kaugnay po nito ay mayroon po tayong mga pinalabas na general flood advisories. Kasama po dito ‘yung mga ilang lugar sa Cagayan Valley, sa Region II, and then some areas in Cordillera Administrative Region, Region I, Region III, IV-A, IV-B. And then some flood bulletin also were issued in particular sa Pampanga River Basin 5:30 a.m. po ngayong umaga ay pinalabas po natin ito. And then flood bulletin din po sa Pasig, Marikina, Laguna de Bay, nag-issue po tayo dito ng flood bulletins 7 a.m. Ganoon din po sa bahagi ng Tullahan River sapagkat downstream po ng La Mesa Dam kapagka nag-overflow ito ay doon dadaloy ‘yung tubig. So as 7 a.m. po today mayroon din po tayong flood bulletin na inisyu dito. And then flood bulletin No. 1 naman po sa Agno River Basin kaninang alas-singko po pinalabas po natin ito and then flood advisory sa Cagayan River Basin, 12 noon kahapon pa po ito. Ayun po. And then may mga hydrological situationer po tayo na pinalabas din particularly sa Angat River ganoon din po ito pong sa La Mesa.
And ‘yun po, ito po pinapakita naman natin ‘yung inaasahan natin in the next two weeks. Given po na ito pong kulay red shaded na area rito ay ito po si Enteng. And then may inaasahan tayo within this week pa rin, may possible na mabuong tropical cyclone or tropical cyclone-like vortex dito. And then may isa pang kasunod dito sa labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility within this period.
So, ito po kung sakali ay maaaring maging si Ferdie itong nandito kasi maaari po siyang mabuo malapit dito sa Philippine Area of Responsibility, sa northeastern boundary niya.
And then itong isa naman kung sakaling matuloy siya, by next week, ay siya po ay tatawaging si Gener.
And then for the month of September, may dalawa hanggang tatlo pa rin po talaga tayong inaasahang bagyo. Then October, dalawa hanggang tatlo. And then November, isa hanggang dalawa. And then by December, may isa hanggang dalawang inaasahan pa po tayong bagyo.
Currently po ay naka-La Niña alert pa rin po tayo. So, hindi pa rin po actually La Niña. Nandoon pa rin tayo sa neutral condition. Pero inaasahan pa rin natin na ‘yun po ano, part rin po ng ating pagpe-prepare ay ‘yung possibility na magkaroon ng La Niña later of this year.
So, ‘yun lang po mahal na Pangulo. Maraming, maraming salamat po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you very much. All right. Can we have a closer view of the track of Enteng? Para ma-identify natin kung saan talaga dumaan. And those will be the areas that will be — especially most affected. We can use the track that you showed kanina. I-zoom lang natin nang kaunti doon sa… ‘Yan.
I-zoom lang natin doon sa northern Luzon nang kaunti just to see where exactly the track.
So, it made landfall. Enteng made landfall in Aurora.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Yes po. Tama po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: And it exited land — it went… It exited the land mass, where? Sa amin? Sa Laoag.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Opo, sa Ilocos po. Sa Laoag po, opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. At which point? What was the wind velocity and what was the rainfall?
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: At that time po, tropical storm ang kanyang category. So… And then ‘yung rainfall po… [I’m sorry po.]
Ito po ‘yung mga pag-ulan na naranasan. So, nagsimula po actually ‘yung mga pag-ulan dito sa Eastern Visayas and then some portions of Central Visayas.
And then afterwards, some areas in Bicol Region po and then areas in Aurora and some areas ng eastern section po ng Luzon. Ganoon din po actually sa Quezon province, mahal na Pangulo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. Can we now go to the dams? The status of the dams. Because if you remember, there was a problem sometime back when the dams opened and it flooded the downstream areas without the benefit of any warning, of any evacuation.
So, what do these figures exactly mean? Are we — how far are we from overflowing these dams? Nakita ko Ipo has already released some — has already opened the gate and has released some of the water.
What is the status of the other dams? And are we imminently — will we have to release also water from those other dams? So that ma-warningan (warning) natin ‘yung mga downstream na communities na mayroon tayong — may gagawin na ganyan.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Tama po kayo mahal na Pangulo. Currently po ang Ipo Dam ay may isang gate na nakabukas and downstream po nito ay ito pong lugar ng Bustos, Pulilan, Baliwag, Plaridel, Port Calumpit, Paombong, and Hagonoy, Bulacan.
And then ito naman pong La Mesa Dam ay tama po kayo, nag-o-overflow po ito currently kasi 80.15 po ang kanyang normal high water level. So, pagka umabot siya doon sa kanyang level na ‘yun, actually na-exceed niya, mag-overflow lang po siya. And then kanina po nabanggit ko po ‘yung….
PRESIDENT MARCOS: This is just — you’re talking about Ipo Dam?
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Yes po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Paliwanag mo ‘yung third column. I don’t know — what does that mean? I can see reservoir level in the second column, okay. But we have no idea whether that is a dangerous level or it is… But I think that the deviation column is more important when it comes to that.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: The deviation column po mahal na Pangulo ay kung ano lang po ‘yung pagbabago niya in the past 24 hours.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: In the past 24 hours. Okay. So, how far — which is the figure? What is the data that we need to look at to see how full the dams and ‘yung kailangan bantayan? Kasi baka kailangan na nga natin magbukas ng gate.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: So, ‘yung fourth column po. Ito po ‘yung normal high water levels. So, dito po natin kino-compare ‘yung current situation or ‘yung water level niya ngayon.
So, ang isa po nating tinitingnan is ito pong currently naka-flood precaution po tayo dito sa Magat Dam dahil medyo malapit po ang kanyang level doon sa kanyang normal high water level. Although nagkaroon siya ng pagbaba in the past 24 hours, but given that, mayroon po tayong mga pag-uulan dulot ng habagat then naka-flood precaution po tayo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: But the Magat is at a minus figure.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Tama po kayo, mahal na Pangulo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, bumaba.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Bumaba po siya ng 0.14 but hindi po natin inaalis ‘yung possibility na ‘yung areas po collecting or encompassing ‘yung watershed ay maaari pong makapag-contribute in the next 24 hours. So, that’s why naka-flood precaution po tayo. And downstream po ng Magat ay ito pong mga lugar ng Ramon, San Mateo, Alfonso, Cabatuan, Luna.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Cabatuan
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Opo, Cabatuan, Luna, and ‘yung mga ilang lugar pa po sa Aurora, even Burgos.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. So, ‘yan ang — at this point ang babantayan natin. Although Enteng is still dropping rainfall, this is another aspect of the flood control that we have to deal with. We might have to deal with kung patuloy pa rin ang pag-ulan na mabigat ay kailangan — baka mapilitan tayo na magbitaw ng tubig.
So, let’s watch that closely. We’ll keep up to date on that. All right. Thank you.
Now, we move on to the briefing that OCD is going to give us on the situation. [Please]
OCD DIRECTOR CESAR IDIO: Good morning, Mr. President. I’m Director Idio of the Office of Civil Defense and I’ll be presenting the effects of Tropical Cyclone Enteng and Southwest Monsoon.
My report is as of September 4, 10:00 a.m. For the sequence of my presentation, will be shown.
On the effects, there are 442,804 families affected or equivalent to 1.7 million persons.
Displaced population are 21,681 families or 88,077 persons staying inside evacuation centers. While 6,348 families or 18,757 persons are served outside evacuation centers in Regions I, II, CAR, III, NCR, CALABARZON, V, VI, VII, and VIII.
On related incidents, there are 121 cities or municipalities affected by flooding in Regions I, III, NCR, CALABARZON,V, and VIII.
Of which, 50 remains flooded, 59 have subsided and 12 have receded.
There are 14 incidents of landslides in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, V, VII, and VIII. Three in Region I; one in Norzagaray, Bulacan; one in Ternate, Cavite; two in Region V; one in Region VII, and six in Region VIII.
On casualties, there are 15 dead, 15 injured, and 21 missing reported. But these are still subject for validation, Mr. President. The details are as indicated on the screen.
On suspension of work and classes, 456 work suspensions and 659 class suspensions were given by LGUs in Regions NCR, I, II, CAR, III, CALABARZON, V, and VI.
On the effects, especially damaged and losses to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture has reported a total of 351 million pesos worth of damage and losses to agriculture affecting 13,623 farmers with volume of production loss at 14,814 metric tons and 8,893 hectares of agricultural areas of rice, corn, and high value crops. And these values are still subject for validation, Mr. President.
On the status of lifelines, 39 out of 79 road sections are not passable in Regions I, II, CAR, III, CALABARZON, and V. Sixteen out of 19 bridges are not yet passable in Regions I, II, III, and V. Sixty eight percent power has restored. This is 19 out of 28 affected LGUs in Regions III, CALABARZON, and V. Sixty seven percent water supply has been affected or two out of three affected LGUs in CALABARZON and Region V.
There are four seaports reported out of 17 seaports that suspended trips in Regions I, CALABARZON, and V; of which there are 455 passengers, 34 rolling cargoes, 13 vessels, and four motorbancas currently stranded in CALABARZON, and Region VI.
On airport, there are or there is no report as of this time as far as non-operations of airport. But there are 24 reported cancelled flights, especially in Regions II, V, and NCR.
One hundred percent communication line has been restored. And on damaged infrastructures, there are three reported in Region V. About P200,000 is the estimated damage to infrastructure in Region V; 589 were reported damaged houses, of which 538 are partially damaged, and 51 are totally damaged.
On declaration of state of calamity, two cities and municipalities have declared state of calamity especially in Naga City and Allen, Northern Samar.
On flooded areas, so there are still 50 flooded areas remaining. These are — one in or in Region I, there is still three flooded areas reported. In Region III, there is still 13 remaining flooded areas. CALABARZON is still one remaining flooded area. Region IV has four remaining flooded area, especially in Camarines Sur. And 29 areas in Region VIII remains flooded as shown.
Of the affected population nationwide, Mr. President, out of the 421,227 affected families, most affected regions are as follows: Region V with 267,073 affected families, followed by Region III, and then Region VIII, and fourth is NCR, and the rest — the other regions have suffered less effects of the typhoon and the Southwest Monsoon, Mr. President.
On the interventions, the NDRRMC has issued the following memoranda: the raising of alert status of the operation center to red for Tropical Depression Enteng and Southwest Monsoon; the declaration of emergency preparedness and response protocols for Typhoon Enteng or Tropical Depression Enteng and Southwest Monsoon; and then activation of NDRRMC response cluster effective 01 September 2024. We have conducted weather updating; we have conducted pre-disaster risk assessment on September 1; and then followed by the activation of Virtual Emergency Operations Center. We have meetings conducted on September 2 regarding class and work suspensions with recommendations submitted to the Office of the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary. We assisted 36 rescue calls, of which 32 are from CALABARZON, three from Region III, and one from NCR. And then we have issued 37 early alert and warning messages in NCR, III, CALABARZON, V, VII, and VIII. And we are on continuous coordination with regional offices and NDRRMC member agencies.
On the NDRRMC response cluster essential elements of information, these are the supports or assistance provided by the different response clusters: on food and non-food items — cost of food and non-food items assistance provided equivalent to P33.1 million; family food packs provided totals to 12,481 to Regions V and VIII. On camp coordination and camp management, and internally displaced persons, there are 16,966 families or 69,815 persons served inside evacuation centers; and 5,329 families or 17,147 persons were served outside evacuation center.
On health cluster, the health cluster has — about P1.45 million worth of health commodities were augmented to Albay, Quirino, and Cagayan; and prepositioned logistics equivalent to P480.6 million worth of prepositioned logistics in CHDs II, IV-A, VII, VIII, and BARMM. And that DOH reported earlier that it has already distributed 400,000 Doxycycline tablets as prophylaxis against leptospirosis.
On logistics cluster, there are four land assets deployed from DPWH and OCD to deliver cargo, especially food and non-food items, and hygiene kits to Baguio City and Antipolo City; 16 personnel from JTF-NCR has provided hauling assistance in loading sites in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
On education cluster, there are nine schools used as evacuation centers in region CALABARZON.
On emergency telecommunications cluster, 467 assets are placed on standby from DICT and OCD.
On law and order cluster, there are 1,120 personnel and 344 resources deployed in Regions II, CALABARZON, V, VII, and NCR to conduct patrolling, provision of security in evacuation centers.
On search and rescue and retrieval cluster, there are 660 SRR personnel deployed, 58 SRR assets deployed, and 2,076 rescued individuals done by the search and rescue and retrieval cluster.
On debris clearing and civil works, there are 1,731 equipment and 7,105 manpower assets prepositioned in CAR, NCR, II, Regions III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VI, VII, and VIII. And there are 10 cleared road sections done by this cluster, especially for those on areas which have not yet subsided — floods have yet to subside.
On the priority needs reported by region: For CAR, there are no identified needs as of reporting time; for Region I, debris clearing needs have been reported; Region II, no identified needs as of reporting time; Region III, no identified needs as of reporting time; for NCR, they manifested that they need debris clearing equipment and they have yet to conduct or they are on the process of conducting rapid damage assessment and needs analysis; MIMAROPA submitted its need for debris clearing; Region V, it submitted the following priority needs: family food packs, family kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, medicines, debris clearing, and air assets; for Region VI, their priority needs are as indicated; and for Region VII, debris clearing equipment; Region VIII, debris clearing equipment and manpower, and also medicines. And they are in the process of conducting rapid damage assessment and needs analysis.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Quick question lang. Region V, because all of the other requirements or priorities, standard ‘yan, mga family food packs — bakit mayroon silang air asset? Anong ibig sabihin nung air asset?
OCD DIRECTOR IDIO: They have — Mr. President, they have requested air assets because of the three boats that were reported that sunk in Mercedes Northern Samar, and they are still reported missing, Mr. President, about 50.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi, hindi, I’m sorry, Samar? This is Region V.
OCD DIRECTOR IDIO: Northern Camarines Norte, Mr. President. Mercedes, Camarines Norte. This is actually air support for the search, rescue operations, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. All right, go ahead.
OCD DIRECTOR IDIO: So, to continue, let me skip these selected photos in NCR which have already subsided. In a… Let me skip the photos, Mr. President. And go directly to — so I think I have completed my presentation, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very well.
OCD DIRECTOR IDIO: Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay, I think very clear — before we get to your briefing — I think very clear that the progress it’s the same pattern that we have always have to deal with that pagdaan, magre-rescue muna tayo. The usual procedure that we are always adopting that we’ll first rescue, try to — as much as possible try to clear the roads so that our response can reach the isolated areas because pagka sa Poblacion, madali ‘yan. Pero ‘yung nasa malayo kailangan natin hanapan ng paraan para makalapit.
But you can see the progress as usual. Region V kung saan — Region V around – then Aurora area kung saan pumasok ‘yung bagyo, malakas pa ‘yung bagyo and we are now at the stage where there are in need of relief goods already. Doon pa sa northern part of Luzon, they are still having to deal with rescue so ‘yun ang phase doon sa northern Luzon. Expected kasi natin, the track was supposed to go only along the Cagayan Coast pero lumiko. Pumasok sa — it went eastwards tapos dumaan na nga doon sa Region I.
So, that is how our response has to be — has to be put together to basically follow the storm kung saan dumaan. I’m — okay, I’m also concerned about the following weather conditions that we are seeing. I originally heard about it yesterday that there is a possibility that this weather structure will become another storm. So, we have to be aware of that because maraming…
Kung talagang may pangalawang papasok pa, ang mangyayari diyan, lahat ng ginawa natin ngayon, uulitin natin if it goes along the same, approximately the same track. So, that’s — wala tayong magagawa, that’s the weather so we just keep that in mind that after everything that we do for Enteng, is — continuous. The storm is now going to come in, magwi-withdraw na naman tayo, we will just wait for the storm to pass before we can go in again. So, it depends. We will have to look very, very closely at your forecasting, ‘yung meteorologist — meteorology assessment is the one that will guide our response. All right, so now we move on to the briefing of the DSWD.
DSWD SECRETARY REX GATCHALIAN: Good morning, Mr. President. Mr. President, I have three slides only. The first slide, next slide — well, Mr. President, basically just shows the number of affected families which was reported by OCD already. Our numbers come close to each other at 450,000. Nagkakaiba lang siguro, give or take because of the cut offs that we used but it’s around 450,000 affected families.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right.
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: The next slide, well pretty much the same, Mr. President, this is the number of families in evacuation center comes close to the OCD number as well. Kami nasa 18,000, sila nasa 22,000. Give or take because of the cut offs again, Mr. President.
Now, Mr. President, this is more interesting for you, the third slide. If we can just zoom a bit doon sa first column, ‘yung family food packs. Mr. President, as reported to you the other night, we have already deployed 133,000 family food packs. And we are currently processing another 100,000, ‘yung mga bago na dumating. But you’re right, Mr. President, if you look at the breakdown of where we sent the food packs, it followed the path of the storm.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Of course.
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: With number one, of course, NCR, because nandito ‘yung flooded areas all the time. But after NCR, it was Region V where the storm came closest at its height, 24,000; and then Region III, 21,000; CALABARZON, 12,000.
But of course, Mr. President, these are just augmentation numbers. Iba pa ‘yung ginawa ng LGU. So, what happens is they do theirs first; ‘pag they need back up, they call us. But right now, we are looking at closing the Enteng response at 250,000 family food packs altogether.
Mr. President, moving forward, you also mentioned na we have to keep an eye out on the potential two storms.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes.
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, moving forward, you also mentioned na we have to keep an eye out on the potential two storms. Before Enteng struck, we were able to restore our national stockpile to 1.7 million family food packs spread across the country. So now we’re doing both response and stockpiling kasi we’ll be using up our stockpile in those said regions. But we’re confident mahahabol naman namin ‘yun. As we speak right now, we’re deploying, and we’re packing, and we’re stockpiling.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: For the information of everyone, the reason that this has become an issue about our stockpiling is after Carina, basically naubos ang ating stock. Kaya namili ulit ang DSWD ng mga food and non-food items para maging handa para sa susunod. Ito na ‘yun. Ito na ‘yung ating prinocure (procure) dahil nga, like I said, walang — pagkatapos noong action natin sa Carina, walang laman ‘yung mga warehouse natin, naubos talaga. And that was our — we had to put up the supplementary budget a little bit because that was our quota for the rest of the year, pero naubos. Wala tayong magagawa, so we will have to respond. And that is what Secretary Rex is explaining to us now.
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, you’re correct. Carina closed at 1.5 million family food packs in a span of three weeks. So, as you mentioned, na-wipe out ‘yung stockpile nation. But we were able to — with your instruction and the supplemental cash that came in from the NDRRMC, we were able to restore the power back to 1.7 million. And then now, we’re probably going to go back to 1.5. But we’re continuously to stockpiling to reach again the 1.7 to 2 million mark.
PRESIDENT MARCOS:Well, of course, we will have to respond to Enteng and all the damages and the requirements that the areas na dinaanan nga nung Enteng are going to need. But, let us not lose awareness of the next. We have to plan the — we must assume that whatever we do now for the immediate needs of the people who are in the areas that have been hit hard, isipin natin na may susunod pa.
So, I think the procurement of the food packs, non-food items, et cetera, ‘yung mga binibigay natin, ‘wag lang natin tingnan ‘yan, tuloy-tuloy ‘yan, tuloy-tuloy ito dahil mukhang may parating pa. And with the forecast of PAGASA, the monthly forecast that you have — we have one or two storms more or less on average for the rest of the year. So…
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: Yes, Mr. President, ano ‘yan it’s become an ongoing activity. It’s a daily activity, Mr. President. Yeah.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I was just about to say it’s no longer one response for each. We have to also think of what is coming in the future para naman we are not caught shorthanded when the time comes that we have to provide the relief and assistance that will be necessary pagka dating ng mga ibang weather systems.Yes, all right.
DSWD SECRETARY GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, we’ll do as instructed. Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, as the assistance, I think we’re all right in terms of supply of our relief goods that we can give. All right. But we must continue the procurement because there is a very good chance that this is not going to be the last for this month. So, we have to prepare for that. Okay.
But so far, we are doing what we are always doing. We attend to those people who have been displaced; those people — we are still providing food packs for those all who have been displaced, not only the people who are — who have — na nasa evacuation center. ‘Di ba’t lagi nating — ‘yung nadisplace lang walang makain, napunta sa pamilya, napunta sa ibang lugar eh kailangan pa ring tulungan. Yeah, all right.
So, for Enteng in terms of the DSWD assistances that are provided, I think we should be all right. But we will have to look at the other assistances that we have to give following this. Now, you see this is what I mean when I — kung halimbawa in the longer term, eh ‘di sige, nandyan ang Enteng, mayroong na-displace, tutulungan natin with food packs, et cetera. However, ‘yung infrastructure development, halimbawa ‘yung rebuilding, tingnan natin baka kasi ‘yung pinakamasakit panoorin ay bagong gawa, hindi pa nagamit, ito na ‘yung bagyo sinira ulit.
So, we have to be — we have to think about that very well. And PAGASA, you’re going to have to be the guide kung ano ‘yung talagang mangyayari. I know that it’s becoming more and more difficult. Again, I’ve mentioned this before. But one phenomenon that we’ve noticed with climate change is how the weather systems developed much more quickly than they used to.
Kung maalala ninyo, noong tayo noon, sasabihin kapag may bagyo, Typhoon Signal No. 1, sasabihin, palapit na sa Pilipinas. The next day sasabihin ay lumakas nang kaunti, Typhoon Signal No. 2 na, okay, so hanggang pumasok ng Pilipinas. Iyong first experience… Yolanda was the first example of this. At some point, sinabi Yolanda is only a Category 2, one, tapos Category 2 hurricane. Within 24 hours, it was a Category 5 hurricane which is a new categorization by the way for super typhoons, naging five.
The same thing with Odette, 24 hours before it hit land, it was a typhoon — it was a Signal No. 1. By the time it reached us, within 24 hours, nag-four na. Kaya ‘yun, ‘yun na ‘yung Odette.
Carina, the same thing. Enteng, the same thing. And that’s why we have to stay conscious of the weather systems that are developing that are now approaching the country. So kailangan natin… We have to have a more dynamic assessment. Hindi na ito ‘yung set piece kung tawagin natin. Set piece na, okay, may bagyo, padadaanin natin, pasok tayo ganoon… Hindi na ‘yung ganoon, tapos balik na tayo, withdraw na tayo. Hindi na ganoon eh.
Sige… Of course, we will take care of the people who have been victims of the typhoon, but we have to watch what’s coming. Kasi kung sisimulan natin ‘yung rebuilding tapos masisira lang, napakasayang naman. Hindi naman nagamit pero gumastos tayo nang malaki kasi emergency. So, we have to be a little more, ‘yun na nga, dynamic in our analysis for this so that ma-maximize naman natin ang mga resources natin dahil lagi namang kulang ‘yan. So, we have to make the best of it. We have to make the most of what we have.
All right. Okay, so that’s the… I think the SOPs that we have put into place, the standard procedures that we have put into place are working well. They are continuing to provide the assistances that the areas that have been hit require. So, we can look to that as a continuing process that we always do when a typhoon comes.
And… So we will try to… I have been trying to fly to do an inspection but — dalawang araw na akong gustong magpalipad pero sabi nung mga piloto namin hindi pa flyable ang mga ibang lugar. So, we’ll try again today, baka mamayang hapon gumanda ‘yung weather. Although ang forecast hindi yata gaganda ‘yung weather today.
OFFICIAL: [We can fly, sir.]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: [Today?]
OFFICIAL: [Yes, sir, after this briefing, sir. [inaudible]]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Sige, okay. So, ‘yun, I will try to make an inspection as soon as I can so that makita natin kung ano ba talaga ang sitwasyon. But nonetheless, we are continuing to monitor all the situations everywhere. And hopefully pagdaan nitong weather system na ito, makapunta tayo at we will provide the assistances that… Because the assistance that we are talking about is not only from DSWD and the immediate requirements but, of course, ‘yung mga nasirang tanim, ‘yung mga nasira na mga hanapbuhay ng mga tao, kailangan nating tulungan.
So that’s what I will be attending to now. The DOH now has to — does not… Again, it’s really information dissemination. When it comes to flooding, ‘yung leptospirosis, the last briefing that I had from Secretary Ted Herbosa was — we just have to teach people. Iyong leptospirosis pala, mag-shower ka lang ng ano, magsabon ka lang, matatanggal na pala ‘yung leptospirosis. So kailangan malaman ng tao natin ‘yan na as much as possible… Halimbawa may sugat ka, you have an open wound, you cannot — umiwas kayong pumasok sa tubig na madumi. I know it’s not always possible but this information has to go out. And then nakahanda naman ‘yung ating mga gamot para when the time comes.
All right, what else do we have to attend to?
DND SECRETARY GILBERTO TEODORO: …also the PAGASA, on the monsoon because whether or not there’s disturbances monsoons are…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Are there, nandiyan, umuulan, oo.
DND SEC. TEODORO: Yeah, so, if there’s some adjustment that can be made. And, Mr. President, we’re also trying to work out a model where we can localize, asking PAGASA for a factual information. Like in Metro Manila, what is the percentage chance of moderate rain. And moderate alone, we know, has effects already, and the decision-makers can make the decision as to, for example, suspension of work or classes without asking PAGASA to make, you know, the call but just factual predictions as much as possible.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Actually, we are already doing that. We are in constant communication with PAGASA so that when the time — should the time come that we have to declare no work and no school, maaga, hangga’t maaga.
But like I said, the problem that we are facing is that these weather systems develop very quickly. So kung sa gabi, alas-siete ng gabi, mukhang okay pa rin. So “Hindi, hindi tayo mag-declare ng no work.” Tapos tatawag ang PAGASA alas-tres ng umaga sabi, “Naku, grumabe.” That’s what happened the last time sa Carina kaya na-late tayong makapag-announce dahil ‘yung advice that came from OCD came at 4:30 in the morning. So, naghabol kami para makapag-advise. But we’ll just do our best. I mean it’s you know, meteorology is not an exact science so…
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VILLAFUERTE: Tama po, mahal na Pangulo. And rest assured po that we will do our best in order for us to give more accurate information po and quickly po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, you know, we’ll just have to do our best. We’ll just have to do our best. The weather is, precisely, is so changeable and more so now than it ever was before. So, we’ll just do our best.
But let’s employ all the best technologies, all the best information; let us be in touch with all of our — all of the other weather stations, ‘yung mga US Coast Guard, ‘yung Japan, ’yung ano… Lahat naman ‘yan nagbibigay sa atin ng information. You’re doing it already. I know that you are doing it already so let’s just keep that going so that we can do our best.
All right, so let’s carry on. We’ll carry on on the DSWD side. We’ll carry on bringing the relief goods where we can go in. Sa public works, kailangan na rin natin mag-clear, the usual thing, mag-clear ng mga kalsada kung saan gumuho ang lupa para makadaan ‘yung ating mga support, ang ating mga relief goods. And then, bantayan lang talaga natin kung ano pa ang mangyayari sa weather.
All right, in the northern areas, doon sa Northern Luzon, umuulan pa rin, baka there are areas na hindi pa mapasok. But we’ll try. We’re already trying to do our best. Iyong report ng OCD na wala pang requirement, ngayon pa lang iyan magkakaroon ng requirement diyan. Magtatawag na ako ng mga governor and see what they need, what the real situation is on the ground. Kasi hindi pa humihingi ng tulong iyan, siguro because they are just having to deal with the storm or the rain — wala na iyong storm — on the rain right now.
All right, so thank you for the briefings and let’s keep an eye out on — ito, ito iyong CAR, no identified needs as of reported time. Ayan, Region I, debris clearing pa lang ‘yan, but dadami ‘yan, dadami ‘yan. So, we’ll just be prepared.
All right, thank you for all your reports. I think we are moving correctly. Carry on. Thank you.
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