PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good morning. We are here for the situation briefing sa effects ng Kristine. Unahin natin ang situation report ng Mayor natin sa Naga, Mayor Legacion, siguro paki ano lang – take us to the…
NAGA CITY MAYOR NELSON LEGACION: Magandang umaga po, Mr. President, sir, at sa lahat po ng Cabinet secretaries, national government officials na nandito po ngayon.
Salamat po sa pagbisita po ninyo. Napakalaking bagay po ito sa aming lungsod at sa lahat ng nakaranas ng masamang epekto dala ng bagyong si Kristine. Si Bagyong Kristine ay 36 hours na nanalasa sa Lungsod ng Naga at mga karatig na munisipyo. And within a 24-hour period, inabot po ng 679 millimeters ‘yung naibagsak na tubig ulan. Ibig sabihin kung 36 hours, about 900 millimeters po ito.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: One meter.
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: One meter – ay one — centimeters ‘yung sinasabi ko. One meter na tubig ang lahat-lahat ang iniwan ng Kristine dito.
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo. So, inabot po ng – may mga lugar 12-feet high or even higher po. Unprecedented po ito, first time na mangyari po sa aming lungsod. And during the onslaught of Typhoon Kristine, around 30 percent po ng land area ng Naga was under water, was submerged. Twenty-two barangays out of 27 was affected.
Sa ngayon, pitong barangay na lang po ang baha. Iyong ilang portion ay hanggang dibdib pa rin ‘yung baha. At dahil po dito, itong Tropical Storm Kristine ay nakaapekto ng around 35,000 households or families ang binaha, were submerged in floodwaters. This is equivalent to around 161,[000] individuals ‘yung nakaranas ng pagbaha. Out of around 220,[000] population ng Lungsod ng Naga.
And due to the impassibility, hindi makadaan ‘yung mga vehicles sa may Milaor area, sa may San Fernando, Naga and other parts of Bicol have been cut off from Luzon. And medyo malungkot po na nasa 13 ‘yung nai-record na po confirmed death at mayroon pa pong isang missing, hindi pa po naa-account.
Around – thousands were trapped sa kanilang mga bahay doon sa mga barangay na binaha and around 15,000 po na ‘yung nag-evacuate. Na-overwhelm po ‘yung aming mga evacuation center and we were forced to allow evacuees dito sa bahay po ng Naga, sa City Hall.
Iyong damage po noon is more than one billion including bridges. May ipinasara na po kami, sir, na tulay doon po sa may Cararayan. Hindi na po pwedeng gamitin. At makikita po ‘yun doon sa larawan. May mga schools and government offices po na naapektuhan. Of course, houses especially those in flooded areas.
Nagkaproblema din po kami sa water supply. And ‘yung mga drainages namin sa tingin ko naapektuhan. Power and communication lines were also greatly affected. Iyong agricultural crops po namin ay naapektuhan din. We have an initial estimate of around P9 million. And of course, the industries and private establishment have been forced to halt operations contributing to the economic strain that we are experiencing right now.
Insofar as the city is concerned, we were ready with – well, it’s not much – but we are now procuring more for our own food packs. But thankfully, we have the Department of Social Welfare and Development that committed around 35,000 food packs. And I understand, within the next few hours may darating… As we speak, the Secretary has committed 12,000. Tomorrow another 8,000 and the day after.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ba’t nakalagay dito only 3,000 were delivered?
MAYOR LEGACION: Iyong nai-distribute pa lang po ‘yan pero may parating.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY REX GATCHALIAN: Kasi initially kasi when he and I spoke 5,000 lang ang request niya. That was really meant for the evacuation centers.
Then, yesterday when I flew in, ang request na ni Mayor sa akin is to jump it up to 35,000. So, from five to 35.
MAYOR LEGACION: To include those who are still submerged.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Kasi when we spoke ng Wednesday morning, ang request lang niya limang libo. We’ve complied with three. But when we met yesterday, the agreement was to raise it all the way to 35 kasi may strain na sa City Hall. So, today we’re delivering 8,000, mamayang gabi another four, so 12. And then, we’ll be finished with another – one to two days tapos na ho ‘yung buong 35.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, so that will be by Monday?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: By Monday, sir. By today ho, 12,000. As we speak, nandiyan na ho ‘yung eight.
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nandiyan ‘yung kasama sa C-130?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: No, sir. Iba ho ito. Galing ho ito sa mga regional warehouses pa rin ho natin.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah ‘yung pre-positioned ito?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Opo. But Mr. President, I told the Mayor after this, we can still talk kasi may mga padating pa galing sa Manila and Cebu.
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo, opo. Kasama po iyon sa immediate needs ng Naga: food packs, water, na nasasagutan na po, and, of course, temporary shelter materials. We are still or we may still be needing rescue boats kasi hindi pa po kami tapos sa rescue operation. Mayroon pa rin pong may mga request kasi nga ‘yung mga areas flooded – minsan hanggang dibdib pa, nakiki-usap pa rin po. So, ongoing po ‘yung aming rescue operations.
And we are now more focusing on relief giving assistance. The health professionals may be needed. May tumawag na po kanina. Ia-assign po siya sa General Hospital for this to become more accessible to people who are in need. And, of course, medicine. I saw downstairs the needed medicine, including those for leptospirosis, opo.
Later on, we would be needing – sana matulungan po – nakapagsabi na rin po si Secretary Rex about financial aid or grants. Opo.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, we’re just waiting for the list. Then, we can start paying out as soon as next week.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong list manggagaling sa inyo?
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo, opo. We can provide the list soonest po, Mr. President. So, iyon.
Pero ang isa pong maganda po sigurong mapag-usapan ‘yung pang-medium-term and long- term solutions sa ganitong sitwasyon. Although, for the longest time ngayon lang po ito nangyari. But who knows, baka may mangyari sa sunod – sana huwag – pero sana mas nakahanda po tayo. Opo, opo, opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Huwag naman sana. All right. Thank you, Mayor. Salamat.
MAYOR LEGACION: Maraming salamat po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. Dito sa – for the… Well, parating na ‘yung all of the financial aid, grants, cash-for-work program.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ito na lang mayroon dito: seed distribution, tools.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY FRANCISCO TIU LAUREL JR.: Ready na ho tayo, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: You’re already ready for that? Pero magagamit ba nila kaagad ‘yun?
SEC. LAUREL: Hindi. We need the water to subside.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We need the water to subside.
SEC. LAUREL: But as the water subsides, sir —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: But you have it? It’s available, ready to be shipped?
SEC. LAUREL: It’s here, it’s here.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s here? Okay, good. Iyan dito sa mga needs mukha namang naka-ready rin tayo.
Iyon lang talaga nagbago… Kasi pinuntahan… Umikot kami sa Laguna, nilipad namin kahapon eh. We went to Laguna, we went to Pampanga, we went to ano… Mayroon pang ano sa Laurel, Lemery? Oo. Mayroon kaunti pero nawala kaagad ‘yung tubig. Dito hindi gumagalaw eh.
MAYOR LEGACION: Kasi po matapos ‘yung malakas na ulan, mayroon from other places dito ‘yung punta eh.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, yes, we understand. That’s why iba ‘yung problema dito, accessibility. Kumpleto naman tayo sa relief goods, sa equipment, sa ano, iyon lamang hindi tayo makapasok dahil… Kaya ‘yung boats.
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SECRETARY GILBERTO TEODORO: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo. Iyong boats. Iyon na nga, iyong nakita natin iyong rubber boat na ‘yung ginagamit pang-deliver ng ano eh, ng food packs. Anyway, so… Okay, pag-usapan din natin ‘yung longer term situation.
Now, Province of Albay. Gov, if you can brief us on that.
ALBAY ACTING GOVERNOR BABY GLENDA ONG-BONGAO: Okay, good morning, Mr. President, and to all the secretaries around. This is my fifth day as Acting Governor, my fifth day. Anyway —
OFFICIAL: Kasabay ng bagyo.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Kasabay po ng bagyo. Parang hinintay lang po ako ni Kristine.
Mr. President, ito po ang situation report ng Albay. May kinalaman sa epekto ng nagdaang bagyo. Nakaranas po ang Albay ng katumbas ng dalawang buwan na pag-ulan, during rainy season ‘yan, sa loob lamang ng higit 24 hours ibinagsak po. So, this is record-breaking since 1969.
Guided by the forecast of PAGASA, agad naman po tayong nagpalabas ng advisories and kasama na po dito ‘yung pagsagawa ng evacuation. Alas-dose pa lang po noong October 22 ay nagpa-start na po kami ng evacuation sa vulnerable population na dapat matapos by alas-singko ng hapon para medyo maliwanag pa.
Pero sa kadahilanan po na napakalakas ng pagbuhos ng ulan, talagang non-stop na pag-ulan, Mr. President, nagdulot po ito ng landslide sa 32 barangays sa Albay. That’s out of 721 – 214 barangays were flooded and seven barangays nakaranas po ng pag-anod ng lahar.
May naitala po base sa reported cases na four injured, two missing hanggang sa mga panahon na ito, and four casualties. All 18 LGUs have implemented evacuation and 549 barangays, 92,022 families equivalent po sa individual 354,219. Damages on properties 571 houses – totally damaged; 3,203 – partially damaged; and the total estimated damage cost for roads and bridges ay aabot po ng 1.3 billion.
Damages naman on agriculture, initial, are estimated to be at 10 million. Sabi po ni Secretary medyo mababa pa siya.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Aakyat pa ‘yan.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Oo nga.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Dahil hindi pa na-assess ‘yung mga hindi pa nakapasok sa ibang lugar.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Since yesterday lang po.
SEC. LAUREL: Nasa 371 million na kami, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah oo, okay. Ang assessed? Sa fisheries. Please, yes, yes.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Okay. And the 6 million po on inland fisheries and sa livestock naman po almost 800,000. Iyan po ang mga larawan ngayon na pinapakita natin mga landslides sa isa sa mostly affected barangays.
Sa Libon. Iyon po ang pinakagrabe talaga sa Libon. Out of 336 households, 20 were damaged, 70 persons affected, and may isa pa po diyan na missing sa Libon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: May casualty diyan na namatay?
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: May dalawa po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Dalawa doon sa landslide.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Dalawa, dalawa, but may missing pa. Iyan po ‘yung sa Guinobatan. Ang lahar flow po sa Guinobatan, Albay.
Bago pa man po sa kasagsagan ng Tropical Storm Kristine, ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan po ay nagdeklara kaagad ng state of calamity sa buong Albay. At ito po ‘yung aming quick response fund: halos kalahati lang po ‘yung in-allocate namin kasi baka mamaya may mga darating pa pong mga bagyo.
Ito naman po ang immediate needs ngayon ng ating mga affected families — 92,022 families ay food packs pa rin. Maraming salamat po, Secretary, nakapagbigay na po ng 30 — mga 33,000. But sa dami po niyan, we are asking more or less 60,000 na food packs.
And then ‘yung mga family kits, sleeping kits, water containers, temporary shelters, lalo na po ‘yung mga heavy equipment po para po sa clearing and the cleanup operations. Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Sorsogon dahil nagpapahiram po si… Nandoon po ngayon si Governor, dala-dala niya po ‘yung mga heavy equipment niya at…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nakasalubong namin ‘yung mga trucks.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Mga isang dosenang truck na – iba-iba ‘yung naka-load. Mayroong mga backhoe, mayroong mga light naman, hindi ‘yung masyadong heavy equipment pero may relief goods… Oo.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Nandoon po si Governor, papunta po sila ng Libon, Polangui — ‘yung mga affected po talaga at tumutulong po ‘yung Sorsogon.
Sa ngayon po ang pinagtutuunan po namin ng pansin sa recovery and rehabilitation, we recommend ‘yung nakita niyo po kanina sa Libon na kailangan ma-relocate na po ang mga families. That’s a 324 families na … Maaaring mag-landslide po sa Libon anytime lalo na ‘pag may ano — kailangan po silang ma-relocate.
And emergency shelter assistance sa mga totally and partially damaged houses, kailangan din po namin; and the livelihood assistance to affected sectors.
And, Mr. President, gagawa po kami ng mas komprehensibong rehabilitation plan. But sa ngayon po, doon na muna tayo sa pagtugon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Lahat naman itong statistics natin partial lahat ito dahil hindi pa tayo nakapag-asses nang mabuti. This is — ‘yan lot purchase, housing for relocation, kailangan nating gawin ‘yun.
But the — usually ‘yan if the — usually, the system that we are using is the local government provides the property kung saan ilalagay. Pero anyway, we’ll come to that. Sa ngayon, nandito pa lang tayo sa relief. Ang laki pala ng damage dito sa Albay.
Again, we have this pero ‘yung maraming — ito ‘yung 571 totally damaged, they will have to stay first in the evacuation centers. Iyon ang kailangan natin susuportahan for the duration. We’ll just have to take… Kahit na umalis na sila sa evacuation center, wala pa silang uuwian. So, they will go to their friend, to their relatives pero kailangan pa rin mag-supply ng ano…
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY JOSE RIZALINO L. ACUZAR: Mayroon kami, sir, programa diyan, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: O, si Sec. Jerry.
SEC. ACUZAR: Sa housing.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, sa housing.
SEC. ACUZAR: Pagka totally damaged, nagbibigay kami ng 30,000, each family. Pagka partially damaged, 10,000.
Ngayon po doon sa sinasabi ninyong sa landslide, mayroon din po kami diyan na ginagamit naming mga developers. Mayroon kaming balanced housing. Para wala na kaming bidding, tinuturo na lang po namin kung nasaan ‘yung mga affected areas ng mga disaster, doon kami nagpapatayo ng socialized housing.
So, anytime pwede kaming magpadala ng developers… Iyon po ‘yung ano nila — contribution sa socialized housing. Ang ginagawa po namin kamukha po ng ginawa namin sa Abra, tinuro namin SMDC. May pangangailangang pabahay doon dahil nga totally damaged.
So, hindi na kami nagbi-bidding, instead of ‘yung socialized housing ng components po ng mga developers, tinuturo na lang po namin ‘yung mga disasters para mabilis ang reaction.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo… Pero ‘yun na nga, but that will — we will still have to make those… Ang kaibahan dito, hindi sila pwedeng bumalik doon sa lugar. Kailangan natin hanapan ng ibang lugar na mataas-taas para hindi na maabutan ng –
SEC. ACUZAR: Ang ginawa ko po, Mr. President, ang lahat ng developers at contractors ng housing pinagre-report po namin sa LGU para ‘yung mga equipment nila at gamit nandiyan na po sila.
At ngayon po nakikipag-coordinate sila kasi ginagamit po namin ‘yung balanced housing nila kaya controlled din namin sila doon sa requirements.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, but in the meantime — ‘yun na nga, both the — ‘yung 571 na totally ‘yung mga households, eh we will have to house them for a while. Gaano katagal kaya na kailangan natin silang susuportahan pa before they can start rebuilding?
Kasi hihingian tayo ng… Sabagay ‘pag ‘yung sa 30,000 nila maumpisahan na nila. Mayroon na silang magagawa, baka mayroon na silang masilungan.
SEC. ACUZAR: Iyon naman, sir, pang-temporary lang pero pagka may materials, construction materials —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, ‘yun ang material — ‘yun na ‘yung susunod.
SEC. ACUZAR: [unclear] ang problema, sir, [unclear].
Ang ginawa lang po namin doon, sir, listahan lang.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, ganoon din.
SEC. ACUZAR: Ibigay na lahat para wala ng documentation na mahaba.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero ‘yung LGU hindi pa rin makapasok sa lahat ng lugar. Mayroon pa ring mga area na hindi pa ano eh… But anyway, dahan-dahan we’ll — bigyan na lang kami ng… Ito Libon pa rin.
Ang laki ng tubig.
Ayun na naman, ‘yung galing sa taas tapos hinila ‘yung dike na pababa bago sinira na ‘yung kalsada. Ang laki ng tubig para gawin ‘yan.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS SECRETARY MANUEL BONOAN: Nasa roadcut iyong bumaba…
DEPARTMENT OF THE LOCAL AND INTERIOR GOVERNMENT SECRETARY JUANITO VICTOR REMULLA JR.: Wala hong slope protection sa baba eh.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: At saka if you look at the — ‘yung protection niya, palabas. So, ‘yung tubig galing dito sa taas. Tapos tinulak na ganoon, noong bumigay na ‘yan, wala na, sinira na ‘yung kalsada.
Iyong ano — wala na talaga, talagang wala. Inubos ‘yung… Wala ng lupa. Anong gagawin ngayon? You’ll have to rebuild it?
SEC. BONOAN: We have to rebuild it, Mr. President, or actually, maga-ano kami dito sa…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Papasok kayo dito.
SEC. TEODORO: Sir, it’s also urgent really that ‘yung landslide-prone areas as it dries it is also dangerous as the soil dries up. According to Sec. Loyzaga, gagalaw.
SEC. BONOAN: Ire-realign namin…
SEC. TEODORO: Itong area, sir, ‘pag lumindol din assuming na walang baha…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ganyan ‘yung mga damage pagka… Hindi mangyari ‘yan kung hindi gaano kagrabe ang laki ng tubig. That’s the — kitang-kita mo na ang bigat ng tubig.
All right. So, ‘yung mga immediate needs — so, food packs we’re all right, in terms of…
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, we’re still using all our existing stockpile but admittedly it’s now day four, so it’s running low. But given that, nag-usap na kami ni Mayor, marami tayong trucks na-stuck sa Milaor. We have around 17 trucks there. It’s another 17 to 20,000 family food packs.
What we’ve done is we were starting to pull out of Cebu. Then, they go through Allen, Port of Allen, then Matnog, then papasok dito.
We have incoming – I was telling the Vice Governor also, mas madali na nga doon na lang kami kumukuha.
So, we’re okay, Mr. President. We’re just having to use our Cebu Center na to feed in to Bicol rather than the Manila Centers.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, that’s all right, as long as we can get it here because this is where it’s needed.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, we have a distribution plan with the Mayor already. Iyong based on his new requirement of another 35 on top of the — 35 on top of the five.
Si Vice Gov. naman, another 60 on top of the 30. So, we’ll start working on those immediately.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. So, how many people are we feeding?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, in effect the whole population already eh kasi sana all na sila ngayon eh.
Bale parang ang lumalabas the whole affected families of Albay is 92— yeah, 92,000 already. Kay Mayor, the entire affected families is 35,000 — families. And then CamSur, we are also starting — we’ve been giving… May allocation ho sila na 50,000, so medyo staggering na ho ‘yung numbers natin eh.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero malaki talaga masyado ang effect. All right, so –
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Basta, sir, Mr. President, we’ll keep on supplying the region from our packing center in Cebu na.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wala na tayong representative from health?
What about on the medicines, hygiene kits — no, medicines, I know hygiene kits also we provide that. But medicines?
SEC. TEODORO: Sir, I was talking to DOH Regional Director. She was outside.
There are three trucks of prophylaxis coming and she still has 40,000 packets of doxycycline. So, if when the three trucks come, which have already left Manila, according to her, it should be okay.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, how long does it take now to come from Manila?
SEC. TEODORO: We have no idea, sir. Because of the Milaor, it’s not moving.
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT ANTON LAGDAMEO: Dati seven hours ‘yun.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, oo. Maganda na ‘yan. Maganda na ‘yung daan for a while.
SEC. LAUREL: Yesterday nagpadala kami ng meats here. It left in the afternoon, this morning it was here na.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It left yesterday afternoon?
SEC. LAUREL: Yes, mga 12 hours siguro.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, mga 10 to 12 hours now. Oo.
DOH? Yeah. Iyong — hello, what’s the situation on the health front? Iyon na muna.
DOH BICOL CHD ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR DR. ROSA MARIA B. REMPILLO: Right now po, our health workers though affected have been deployed in the different evacuation centers and serving our affected population.
And right now po, mayroon po tayong tatlong trucks na na-stranded sa Milaor that contains the…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: The three trucks are here already?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Nasa Milaor na po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah umabot na pala.
SEC. TEODORO: Baka pwede magdala ng rubber boat –
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: We are coordinating with the PNP po. As soon as bumaba po nang kaunti, uunahin po ‘yung ating truck para makapasok. The PNP naman po is assisting us, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, so, how about the hospitals, and the clinics, and our health centers?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: So far po, ‘yung ating mga DOH hospitals po is functional. BMC — nabaha po siya pero functional po.
We are requesting additional manpower po for the Geriatric Medical Center kasi six days na pong straight ‘yung mga tao natin doon. And the DOH Central Office promised to send the manpower within this weekend or Monday will be the latest. And then, Naga City Hospital will be augmented din po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, that was the decision we made yesterday when we had the overall briefing that the DOH has to send medical team — it seems here in the region.
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Yes po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Mostly here in this — in Region V.
So, okay. So, that’s being attended to. All right, thank you.
Hygiene kits were all right again because…
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, we still have supply. We’re sending it in the evacuation centers inside.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Again, ‘yung fuel — it’s the distribution.
SEC. TEODORO: That’s one, sir. And I just talked to OCD that the fuel supplies are going low on the depots. So, Usec. Wimpy Fuentebella is talking to the oil companies now and the PNP to prioritize the trucking of the fuel here.
And OCD has — available for CamSur and Naga — a total of about 10,000 liters in fuel assistance which we… We will talk to the Vice Governor and the Mayor how best to distribute. We have to ration it and we have to prioritize it.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: For now?
SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it will be — the priorities will be, first of all, will be the hospitals.
SEC. TEODORO: The responders.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Who need — for their generators. They will need… So, the hospitals first, for all the responders. And then the offices, the agencies that are working, they need to have, again, they need to have power to function.
SEC. TEODORO: Even though, sir, the roads may be passable, we still have to unclog the highways. So, we are looking for alternative routes through the Bondoc Peninsula and shipping things into Pasacao, and other ports from the Visayas. Because the Matnog-Allen Highway may also be clogged with traffic, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We still block…
SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir. We have to unclog the highways as much as possible. We cannot prevent private individuals from transiting.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Of course.
SEC. TEODORO: From Cebu, sir, we’ll use Philippine Navy or other assets. Point-to-point from Cebu by boat already.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Saan bababa?
SEC. TEODORO: Sa Pasacao, sir. Dito, sir, LCT pwede naman, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. All right.
Wala pa tayong forecast doon sa susunod na LPA?
SEC. REMULLA: It’s going north.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s going north?
SEC. REMULLA: But it could very little – only days…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah. Daplis lang daw ng lupa.
SEC. REMULLA: Sa Aurora lang sir, tatama.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. So, ‘yun ang inaalala namin kasi may LPA pa na parating.
All right. So at least for the immediate needs I think we’re okay. Ang problema talaga natin dito which is very different from… Kasi when we went around, lumipad kami kahapon, wala ng masyadong tubig, mayroon may area pang nakabaha pero very small, considering na nauna kayong maulanan.
Itong mga lugar, mga Batangas, mga Cavite, nawala kaagad ang tubig. Dito, hindi nawawala ang tubig. But that’s the proverbial problem of the Bicol River Basin. Kaya’t kailangan talaga nating pag-isipan, what are we going to do in the long term because you cannot expect any changes. The next time it rains, ito na naman tayo. It will be the same situation all over again.
So, we have to find the long-term solution. Pinag-aaralan ko ito and I found that in 1973, there was the Bicol River Basin Development Project. It was a USAID Project na it included the building AID pero may kasamang ADB, pati iyong mga Japanese — wala pang JICA noon — what was the equivalent of JICA? Pati EU, kasama sa plano.
I read, I have here a study of, ito someone from UP that assessed the effects of the BRBDP. Despite some challenges, mukha namang malaki ang naitulong. Iyon lamang hindi natapos. In 1986, when the government changed, nawala na iyong project, so basta’t natigil.
So, we have to revisit it now. Iba na ang conditions ngayon with the advent of climate change. Iyong rainfall — iyong rainfall ninyo is — was double Ondoy. Halos doble ng Ondoy ang umabot dito. Kaya one meter nga eh. We talked about several inches of water. Dito one meter eh. One meter of water was deposited in the region, altogether, sa buong region, more or less.
So, we have to—alam ko may study na ginagawa ang public works tungkol dito.
SEC. BONOAN: Yes, Mr. President. Under the Philippine-Korean Project Facilitation project, iyong Bicol River Basin Flood Control Project was already updated only this July, noong July 2024.
Now, including the feasibility study for the flood control program, Mr. President. So, by early next year, we will be doing the detailed engineering design.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: The difference between the original development project for the Bicol River Basin was iyon, hindi lang flood control. Flood control was only one aspect. Marami iyon, may farm-to-market road, maraming isinama doon sa malaking project. It was really to support, because depressed area – iyong mga depressed areas here in Region V.
Now, we have to focus specifically on flood control. And the others, marami naman tayong mga plano for the rest of it. But we have to focus now on flood control because flood control… Kaya nga doble, sobra na iyong tubig, hindi na talaga kaya. Kahit na—may flood control naman tayo eh, pero hindi kaya iyong ganito kadaming tubig. Hindi talaga kaya.
Kasi never naman—walang forecast na ganito eh. Ito climate change talaga ito. This is all new. So, we have to come up with also new solutions. All right, how will we fund it?
SEC. BONOAN: There is already a commitment from the Korea Eximbank, Mr. President. So, we have to complete now the detailed engineering design now. So, by towards the end of 2025 or 2026, we will be able probably to implement na the civil works.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, we have to get started on that.
SEC. BONOAN: In the meantime, Mr. President, I was just informed, actually, Mayor, dito sa Naga, we have actually six flood gates, flood control gates actually that –
MAYOR LEGACION: Na-overwhelm ‘yun.
SEC. BONOAN: — na-overwhelm. But, if you need some assistance actually to operate it, I understand that you probably would need to rehabilitate some of them actually to make them operational.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah, hindi operational ngayon.
SEC. BONOAN: Some of them yata.
MAYOR LEGACION: Most of them, most of them. Pero ‘yung volume kasi ng –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi talaga kinaya.
MAYOR LEGACION: Hindi kinaya.
SEC. BONOAN: It may help a little bit.
MAYOR LEGACION: Kasi ‘yung Naga River, ay kuwan eh — tumaas ng –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Silted na.
MAYOR LEGACION: Isa pa ‘yun. Hindi lang Naga River kung ‘di Bicol River. Iyong tubig tumaas nang tumaas nasa kalsada na.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang dami ng flood control na ginawa eh. Yes, sige, go.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: I just want to ask, because our Bishop commented — I think yesterday regarding the effect of quarrying sa nangyayari pong flooding. So, I would like to ask help from you?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: What happened, ano ang effect nung quarrying na nangyari?
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Siguro, sabi nila okay lang ang quarrying basta nasa tamang lugar. So, hindi ko alam kung nasa tamang lugar pa po ang nangyayaring quarrying sa Albay.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Which quarry is that? Patingnan natin sa DENR.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Yes, please, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: But you have to give me the area para mapuntahan.
SEC. REMULLA: Mr. President, ang quarrying po is a local government matter. Ang nagbibigay po ng permit diyan is the governor. So, they should have the file kung saan iyong quarrying.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Yes.
SEC. REMULLA: So, it’s the decision of the local government kung ititigil.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang naga-administer ng quarrying is the barangay. Sila ang naga-ano ng —
SEC. REMULLA: But the final permit is with the —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: But the permit comes from —
SEC. REMULLA: — from the governor, sir, Office of the Governor.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, it comes from the province.
SEC. REMULLA: So, sila rin ang makakaalam kung saan ‘yan eh.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Actually, it comes at every level eh because magpa-public hearing pa iyan ng ganyan, environmental, ECC, et cetera, so, every step. I’m sure may record kayo niyan. Just tell us the areas na na-mention.
SEC. REMULLA: For aggregates?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Aggregates siguro ito. Kasi kung river, mas maganda nga iyon kasi pinapalalim iyong ilog eh.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: That’s right, that’s right.
SEC. REMULLA: But that’s a local government matter.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Yeah, I know. But…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s hard to regulate because iyon na nga once the permit has been acquired, it is the barangay. Iyong barangay, siyempre more and more, kasi iyong kita doon ang quarrying sa barangay — may share ang barangay diyan eh. So, they encourage quarrying kasi mayroon silang magamit.
SEC. REMULLA: Sir, the governor has the power to issue a cease and desist to all the quarries operating.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, if there are specific areas, sabihin ninyo ako so that we can focus our attention on that. You just put it in the next situation report and we will be able to find it.
But, you know, to be specific, send it to Sec. Jonvic. And then, Sec. Jonvic can forward it to DENR, they can look at it and ask kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari. Palagay ko ang nangyari diyan, nag-start nasa tamang lugar, pero nag-expand nang nag-expand nang nag-expand.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Iyong regulation lang po.
SEC. REMULLA: Ano ‘yan large-scale or small-scale quarrying? Small scale mining ‘yan?
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: Small scale, yes.
SEC. REMULLA: O ‘di province lahat ang nag-issue ng permit.
ACTING GOVERNOR ONG-BONGAO: That’s right. That’s why I need help as the Acting Governor now.
SEC. REMULLA: You can issue immediately a cease and desist. So, tigil muna sila para mapag-aralan natin. Ano iyan, it’s a unilateral decision. Kayo lang magdedesisyon niyan para mapigil sila habang pinag-aaralan natin kung ano ang gagawin.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyon bang mga lugar na quarrying aggregate lang ang kinukuha o mayroong iba? Aggregate lang? O sige, pero quarrying pa rin. Pero palagay ko lumagpas na doon sa boundary nung actual na permit. Nangyayari talaga iyan eh. Like I said, because the barangays want to – para mayroon silang income nang kaunti ‘di ba.
SEC. BONOAN: Mr. President, doon sa road clearing and cleaning up operations, lahat ho ng quick response team are already in the filed actually doing the clearing operations, Mr. President. I think in a couple of days siguro, once ano na lahat, except iyong malalaking damages, I think they should be cleared, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. So, while that’s important, but again the bottleneck here is iyong level ng tubig eh. Hanggang bumaba, marami tayong hindi maaaring gawin. Ngayon, dahil wala tayong sistema, mag-aantay lang tayo. Kawawa naman ang tao, wala silang… Naka-standby lang sila, walang trabaho, walang ano…
Ah, sige. All right. Anyway, for the immediate—but there’s still some rescue ongoing. For the immediate concerns for the relief, mukha namang we have sufficient supply of relief goods that are waiting to be able to go into the different areas.
That is why the 6ID, nakita na namin iyong mga tao ng 6ID, they were there – sila ang nag-operate nung rubber boat para magdala ng relief goods sa isolated areas. Siyempre natural iyan, iyong mga tao ayaw iwanan iyong bahay nila. So, sila na lang ang pupuntahan natin.
So, for the medical concerns, it’s usually the medicines that we have to look up. First the prophylaxis for the leptospirosis and all of the other diseases that come with the flooding. But the supply also of medicines. We still have a good supply of medicines? Usually what happens is the maintenance medicines…
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Included po, Mr. President, sa ating package.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. But even those prescription medicines? You cannot— it needs a doctor to provide the prescription—
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: We have doctors po in the field.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Sige, so they know what to do. All right, so they are there, that’s available, so we’re taking care of that. Hygiene kits, the same thing, we have enough supply.
Ngayon talaga, what we should really go away now and on the public works, mukha namang tama iyong priority natin, mag-clear muna tayo ng thoroughfare, iyong nasira—ay, iyong na-landslide, iyon ang uunahin natin. Iyong na-landslide ma-clear kaagad para magamit iyong daan para dalhin nga iyong mga relief goods and everything.
Well, that’s why we have to augment. They are full.
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Hindi pa naman po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah, hindi pa.
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Our hospitals have enough beds. The manpower inside the hospital medyo exhausted na po, that’s why the DOH Central Office will be sending —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: You are running on generator now?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Yes, po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: How long have you been running on generator?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Fifth day.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Those generators are not designed to run for that long.
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: For the BMC po, they have a backup generator. I’m not very sure with Naga City Hospital. Mayor?
MAYOR LEGACION: Mayroon na po tayong kuryente since Wednesday.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Aba, mabilis. O sige, o good. O, that’s…So, that’s a bit of good news.
OFFICIAL: Pwede naman sir ‘yung standby rental.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ha?
OFFICIAL: Pwede naman standby rental, kontrata na.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo. Kasi hindi malakas ang hangin, hindi masyadong malakas ang hangin kaya naibalik.
OFFICIAL: Salamat na lang. Kasi kung malakas ‘yung hangin —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Naku, wow. Parang Yolanda na ang nangyari. Pero marami talagang tubig. And that’s why—hindi, kasi hindi gaanong malakas iyong hangin, hindi nasira iyong poste-poste, hindi nalaglag iyong mga poste. So, mas mabilis ang balik ng kuryente than usual.
Now, tayo naman, we have to start planning on the long term about what we are going to do. Sino ang gagawa ng technical ano – ? Who did the feasibility study? Tayo? Korean ang gumawa.
SEC. BONOAN: Kagaya iyong programa nila sa Cavite.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah, that’s part of it. Oh yeah, I know that. Okay. All right. Okay, ano pa, Mayor? Vice? Anything else?
MAYOR LEGACION: Mayroon kaming nakitang project ng DPWH, ito iyong regarding basin. Mayroon din po dito. Nag-allocate na po kayo ng 60 million pero hindi magamit.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Bakit hindi?
MAYOR LEGACION: Kasi iyong area, iyong lupa privately-owned. Hindi makapag-implement doon. Pero sa tingin ko makakatulong po iyon at least sa Naga.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Malaking bagay. Hindi, malaking tulong iyon.
SEC. REMULLA: Sir, ang kailangan dito sir mga 100 hectares ang [unclear] –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Gaano kalaki iyong project na sinasabi mo?
MAYOR LEGACION: Parang 20 to 30 hectares lang po iyon pero makakatulong po iyon sa amin. Kasi iyong—ang gagawin niyan, iyong tubig galing sa taas ng Mt. Isarog, iipunin po diyan. And dahan-dahang iri-release kapagka pwede na.
SEC. REMULLA: Mayor, pumunta kayo sa amin. Pakita namin iyong design kung paano ginawa. Sa amin mga 200 hectares eh.
MAYOR LEGACION: Opo. So, sana ituloy po ng DPWH.
SEC. BONOAN: Opo. Nag-usap kami ng Director kanina, nag-usap kami. Iyon nga lang, iyong ano lang ‘yung basin lang. Tulungan ho ninyo kami doon sa ano…
SEC. REMULLA: Sir, iyong peace and order natin kumusta?
MAYOR LEGACION: Okay naman po. Mas maraming mga PNP personnel iyong naka-deploy kasi ina-anticipate iyong possible looting. Opo.
SEC. REMULLA: May nangyari na ba?
MAYOR LEGACION: Mayroon iyong first two days. Ang nangyari kasi, halimbawa iyong 7-11, iniwan eh. Nasira iyong glass and pinasok.
SEC. REMULLA: Pero outside of that, wala namang—sa mga evacuation centers, walang crimes against people?
MAYOR LEGACION: Wala po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We medical teams in the evacuation centers o at least lumilibot?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Yes, po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, kasi hotbed of ano ‘yan, hotbed of contagion ‘yang mga iyan eh. And then, si Secretary Ted was worried about respiratory kasi ang bilis maghawa.
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: Automatic po for DOH, sir, and the local government units to partner and field our health workers to the evacuation centers po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: What are you seeing? What are people suffering from?
DOH BICOL ASST. RD REMPILLO: So far po, ubo at sipon, at saka lagnat. The usual po, with or without any disaster, iyon di naman po ang usual na ano. Special needs – leptospirosis. But we have the doxycycline.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. Vice, anything pa? All right.
Maraming salamat. Thank you.
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