PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: All right. Thank you all for coming to this very — this meeting for — called at a very short notice. Let me call to order the situation briefing on the effects of Storm Kristine.
[prayer]
The next will be — the next items will be the presentations by the different agencies. First of all, the weather situation from PAGASA. Where is the storm? What is the — ?
PAGASA OFFICIAL: Yes, good morning, Mr. President. At maraming salamat po sa ating lahat. Magandang umaga po.
So, for the tropical cyclone update kay Tropical Cyclone Kristine – Severe Tropical Storm. So, for today, makikita po natin na as of 8 a.m. location nasa 200 kilometer west of Bacnotan, La Union. So, ‘yung movement niya medyo bumagal po ngayon west northwest at 15 kilometer per hour as of 8 a.m. analysis. And then, intensity po niya nasa 95 kilometer per hour and then gustiness up to 115 kilometer per hour.
So, ito po ‘yung mga rainfall distribution throughout the country from October 21, Monday, until October 23, Wednesday. So, makikita po natin na ang concentration noong Monday ay dito sa may Bicol Region, then tumataas from moderate to heavy nagiging intense and then nagiging torrential so… And then, on October 23, Wednesday, makikita po natin na nagshi-shift na dito sa may Cavite, Mindoro, Batangas area ang concentration po ng mga malalakas na pag-ulan pati na rin po dito sa may part ng Cagayan Valley.
So, ito po ‘yung top five highest observed rainfall noong October 22. Nakapag-register po tayo ng 528.5 millimeter in 24 hours sa Daet, Camarines Norte. Iyong kung ikukumpara natin sa stations normal ay 489 so may increase po tayo ng 107 percent. So sa Legazpi, 431, and then kung ikukumpara natin nagkaroon po tayo ng increase ng 134 percent. So, sa Juban at sa Mulanay wala pa po tayong stations normal pero ang recorded rainfall sa Juban, Sorsogon ay 406; sa Mulanay, Quezon ay 384.6; at sa Virac, Catanduanes nasa 82 percent satisfied na iyong buwan ng October, naka-register po tayo ng 327.3.
So, ito po ‘yung 3 hourly rainfall yesterday. Makikita po natin mga intense ‘yung mga nasa violet and then nasa intense to torrential rainfall po ‘yan makikita natin ‘yan dito sa may Batangas, Cavite, Mindoro area naka-concentrate ‘yung mga malalakas na pag-ulan. And then, dito po sa may bandang western part sa may Ilocos Region, itong Dagupan sa may Pangasinan and then Iba, Zambales, nagkaroon din po ng mga intense to torrential rainfall.
So, ito po ‘yung status ng mga dams natin. So, six out of 10 dams nag-open na po ng gates. This is in coordination with the different agencies like NEA and then NAPOCOR.
So, makikita po natin ‘yung Ipo and Bustos dam ‘yung cascading dams along the Angat River in Bulacan. So, ang possible maapektuhan na municipalities ito pong Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliwag, Pulilan, Plaridel, Calumpit, Paombong, at Hagonoy.
Ito naman pong cascading dams ng Agno River, ito pong Ambuklao sa may Bokod, Binga sa may Itogon, at San Roque sa may Pangasinan, ang maaari pong barangays na maapektuhan diyan sa may Ambuklao: ito pong barangay sa may Ambuclao; sa Binga: ito pong barangay sa Dalupirip and Tinongdan; sa may San Roque: municipalities of San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Asingan, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Villasis, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, at Bayambang.
So, sa Magat Dam naman sa may Isabela: iyong municipality po ng Alfonso Lista sa Ifugao and the municipalities of Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian and Gamu. Lahat po ‘yan nasa probinsiya ng Isabela.
So, ito po ‘yung ating scenario for the tropical cyclone ‘yung nasa labas ng PAR. Sa ngayon po tropical depression na siya. So, inaasahan natin by tomorrow evening papasok na ito ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility.
So, possible lalapit po ‘yan by next week, it’s either October 29-30, close approach po ‘yan dito sa northern Luzon. Dalawang scenario maaaring mag-recurve and then tumuloy dito sa may extreme northern Luzon. So, ‘pag may mga significant updates i – significant changes, ia-update po natin.
So, iyon lamang po. Maraming salamat po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Thank you.
Iyong sa storm track, ‘yung una na nilabas ninyo. I saw report that pwedeng bumalik? That the storm – umikot na eh.
How far do you think? What is the forecast for that? Maaari pa bang bumalik?
PAGASA OFFICIAL: Yes, sir, may scenario po na maaaring bumalik siya. Pero paglabas po ng PAR and then babalik siya, papasok lang din po uli, and then lalabas na uli.
So, hindi na po siya masyadong didikit sa western part ng Luzon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, because it doesn’t have to make landfall for the damage to occur. Titingnan mo itong sa radar, ‘yan, exactly that, ‘yung pula, ang laki ng coverage. Malayo na ‘yung bagyo pero nandiyan pa rin ang ulan.
And then, there’s that low pressure area as well that will follow. Yes, yes, sir?
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SECRETARY RENATO SOLIDUM JR.: Essentially, Kristine will be in that area for a week more, isang linggo siya hanggang end of next week. So, iyon ‘yung kailangan din nating bantayan.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. Well, it is what it is. We just have to deal with it.
All right, thank you for the weather situation report. Now, we’ll go to DILG Secretary Jonvic for the affected communities report.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY JUANITO VICTOR REMULLA JR.: Sir, Region IV-A, and IV, and V, were most heavily affected. In the entire country, those affected were Region I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, V, VIII, CAR, and NCR. Affected LGUs were 44 provinces, 73 cities, 733 municipalities, 14,666 barangays.
We have operational 5,791 evacuation centers, of which 19,961 families were evacuated. And 64,000 served in the evacuation centers – 64,000 families.
As of now, sir, most have been – except for the Naga region, most have been – have returned back to their homes.
So, we are still awaiting for the reports on the status of the evacuation centers. But no reports of crimes against people in evacuation centers, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: This is as of when?
SEC. REMULLA: As of 7 o’clock this morning, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: This morning?
SEC. REMULLA: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, it’s fairly accurate.
SEC. REMULLA: Sir, most of the deaths occurred in Batangas and in Naga. Batangas because of the landslide.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, Naga because the water is still there eh. Hindi umaalis ‘yung — all the downstream from Albay ends up there eh.
SEC. REMULLA: That’s right. So, there’s still seven people missing and 10 confirmed dead in the Naga area. In Batangas, seven confirmed dead; I think, three missing.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. So, at least in Central Luzon?
SEC. REMULLA: There were no reports of damage to… No reports of casualties in Central Luzon, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Of casualties, but damage to thoroughfares? We can still go in?
SEC. REMULLA: Yes, everything is passable, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. That’s the problem we are having with Bicol is ang hirap pumasok, both because of the weather and the flood – the continued inclement weather and the access.
All right, thank you. Next report will be from Secretary Jimmy Bautista of DOTr on the infrastructure and transportation situation. I think mostly concerned – we are mostly concerned with our ports.
Have we been able…? Has the Coast Guard allowed us to open any of the ports that were – there were 34 of them, I think, that we closed in Region V?
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JAIME BAUTISTA: There were 115 ports affected, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi ‘yung sa PPA. Anyway, sige, keep going.
SEC. BAUTISTA: Yes, sir. There were 115 ports affected. There were 10,236 stranded passengers; 2,699 rolling cargoes were stranded. The Philippine Coast Guard has deployed 226 teams rescuing around 142,000 individuals in 11 regions.
There were some reported missing fishermen, Mr. President. Two: one is in Poro – Barangay Poro, City of San Fernando, and the other one is in the vicinity of Buenavista, Quezon. The Philippine Coast Guard together with the Philippine Ports Authority have extended assistance to all these affected individuals. And I think one of the biggest affected is the Matnog Port. Until now, no movement of vessels yet. But the Philippine Coast Guard will allow the vessels to sail if the weather condition improves.
In the airport situation, Mr. President. All the airports are operating right now. There are no reports of major damage. The Philippine – the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and DOTr are on standby in all the airports so we can coordinate for possible distribution or transport of relief goods. So, we are coordinating with all the other agencies, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. So, we at least able to take care of the stranded passengers at our ports. So, the airports are operating.
SEC. BAUTISTA: Yes, sir. Right now, all the airports are operational.
So, these are the affected passengers: 67 delayed flights from October 21-October 24. There are almost 29,000 passengers affected, either by delayed flights, cancelled flights, or diverted flights.
So, these are the regions affected as mentioned earlier: 10,475 passengers were stranded, 111 vessels, and 2,839 rolling cargoes.
And these are the rescue evacuation efforts from the Philippine Coast Guard. As I’ve mentioned earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard has deployed 226 teams. They have deployed 130 aluminum and rubber boats.
So, the Philippine Coast Guard continues to monitor all the — all these ports ‘no. And we’ll issue clearance to sail when the situation improves ‘no.
So, some of the operating lines… This is for the Philippine National Railways, there’s no operation in Naga to Legazpi, Naga to Sipocot, and Calamba–Lucena.
In Naga, the other day the station was submerged with water. The officers of PNR assisted many passengers and employees ‘no. See to it that they are safe.
The other… These are actions taken: removal of trees and debris ongoing, cleaning of stations in Naga, and as I’ve mentioned, they have accommodated evacuees in Naga and Iriga.
So, these are some of the pictures that were taken in Naga and Iriga.
For LRT 1, fallen tree — there’s fallen tree between EDSA and Libertad station. And the operator – the Light Rail Manila Corporations Engineering personnel were onsite working to safely remove part of that tree.
So, yesterday at 7 p.m., the damage to the catenary system and — have been worked on. So, LRMC implemented limited operations and it will be operational today, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. But at least that final highlighted — that by 6:10 a.m., LRT 1 has resumed from Baclaran to Roosevelt — it’s now Fernando Poe Jr. Station.
Okay. All right. So, it’s coming along. It’s just we have to clean it up.
SEC. BAUTISTA: Yes, sir. We’re back to normal, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Clean up the damage.
Okay, thank you, Sec. Jimmy.
Let us — these effects on agriculture will be very ano — very early pa ito. So, let’s move — well, I’ll come back to it to see what we already have pero maaga masyado to make the proper estimates of what the damage is going to be. Perhaps in the areas kung saan na nakapasok ‘yung mga DA para mag-asses. Pero marami pang hindi pa pwedeng puntahan, especially doon sa malalayo.
Anyway, so, we’ll get back to that. The next item on our agenda is a report from DSWD. Secretary Rex. You’re already in Naga? Secretary Rex.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY REX GATCHALIAN: Good morning, Mr. President.
Mr. President, as you instructed, we were able to land in Naga this morning. If you’ll allow me, Mr. President, to introduce Mayor Legacion is beside me and Congressman Bordado of Naga is also here. We’re in our mobile command center in the city hall of Naga.
Mr. President, I met — this morning I met with Governor Luigi Villafuerte, and basically the update is: of his 36 local government units, nine of them are still submerged under water; of the 36, six are partially submerged. But the good news there, Mr. President, is the local government unit has been quite aggressive in doing house-to-house food relay. They’ve been delivering the food — family food packs of DSWD using their boats and they are doing it house-to-house.
Basically, from my discussion with Governor Villafuerte this morning, they’re okay with the food. Mr. President, his main concern was water. I know we did send the water purification systems pero nagkataon, Mr. President, naipit ho ‘yung trucks sa Milaor kasi naputol ho ‘yung road na ‘yun medyo baha pa ho.
But as an action step, Mr. President, we spoke to Manila Water and Maynilad Water, and they have already provided us with quite substantial number of those six-gallon na lalagyan. And we are now working with the Air Force so we can airlift these.
Manila Water is providing us 400 pieces of five-gallon containers. While Maynilad is doing 2,000 six-gallon — six-liter containers.
So, I think we’ll be okay with water, Mr. President, as long as we’re able to deploy using the C-130s. We’re working with General Brawner and DND on this.
Mr. President, the province is also expressing their concern on fuel. Kasi wala na hong nakakapasok na mga tankers kasi nga lahat sila na-trap sa Milaor, and in the south side hindi pa rin ho nakakapasok from the Matnog Port as reported by Secretary Jimmy.
But on top of that, Mr. President, they have also expressed their concern about recovery efforts in terms of agriculture, housing. And they are also… I’m working with the DOH already also on augmenting their health capacities.
So, Mr. President, that’s all for the province’s — the concerns of the province. If you’ll allow, sir, I’ll let Mayor Legacion speak for Naga City.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, please.
NAGA CITY MAYOR NELSON LEGACION: Magandang umaga po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Magandang umaga.
NAGA MAYOR LEGACION: Sa lahat po ng kasama po natin ngayon. Of the total land area po ng Naga City, around 30 percent po ay binaha. And around 70 percent of our population ay nakaranas po ng pagbaha.
At sa ngayon, I think around 20,000 families residing in about nine barangays ay baha pa rin at dito ngayon naka-focus ‘yung aming rescue operations, as well as relief operations.
Pero I must admit, Mr. President, at hinihingi po namin ‘yung tulong particularly ng DSWD, kinukulang na po kami sa pagkain, sa tubig, kung matutulungan po kami ay malaking utang na loob po namin ito sa pamahalaang national, sa inyo pong administration, Mr. President.
Mayroon pong casualty na nai-report po sa amin, 13. At, of course, maraming damage to properties, both personal, even real properties.
Mayroon po kaming isang tulay na nasira o sinira ng bagyong si Kristine. At pinahinto ko na — isinara na po namin para hindi na masyadong — hindi na maka-cost pa ng buhay at anumang damage.
So, ang tingin po namin, Mr. President, hangga’t hindi pa nako-cross ‘yung highways sa Milaor at hangga’t hindi pa po nakakarating ‘yung mga ayuda coming from Metro Manila, from the national government, ay mas mahihirapan pa po kami.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you, Mayor.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, I updated the Mayor that right now for our regional warehouse, we still have 86,000 family food packs. And I assured him — magkatabi man ho kami na he can pick it up any time. He has a standing request of 30,000. We are ready to distribute that, Mr. President.
Of course, he’ll take charge with the last mile pero we still have food on the ground and I assured him already that ready ho ang national government to augment his needs.
Now, ‘yung water po, as I mentioned, Manila Water and Maynilad Water is ready to go. The moment we get the airlifts from Air Force, we should be able to provide both the province and Naga City.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Thank you, Secretary Rex. Mukhang the problem is not the availability of relief goods and the responders, but is the accessibility doon sa areas, especially in CamSur dahil marami pang nakalubog. Pero nailikas — nag-evacuate tayo nang mabuti. So, wala ng isolated na kailangan i-resuce o mayroon pa ring — nagre-rescue pa rin tayo ng tao doon sa flooded areas?
NAGA MAYOR LEGACION: Mayroon pa rin, Mr. President, mga ilan-ilan na natatanggap kaming rescue request at nagre-respond pa po kami hanggang ngayon. Pero I think we are now shifting our operations from rescue operations to relief operations.
Inaasahan po namin na hangga’t may baha ay patuloy na mahihirapan… Kinakailangan ng aming mga kababayan ng pagkain, ng tubig, maging ng damit… Ito ‘yung una muna na necessities sa ngayon.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, if I can speak on behalf of the province, kasi si Gov. I couldn’t pull him dahil he’s quite busy with his own operations kanina.
Basically, Mr. President, for Camarines Sur, ang report ni Gov. wala na hong kailangan ilikas. Iyong mga nakikita natin sa mga tahanan, what they’re doing lang is they’re waiting for the flood waters to reside pero ang hinihingi nila food.
So, that’s why the province has mobilized boat brigades to distribute the family food boxes of DSWD.
So, sa side ho ng province wala na hong nililikas, more of food relay na lang using the boats po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very well. All right. But we have all of these — yes, all of these goods available at saka na… We are seeing the pictures now of some of the relief efforts that are ongoing. Kahit na may baha pa rin naka — at least nakapasok na ‘yung mga ating mga tao together with some of the relief goods and some of the equipment that we need. Iyong mga water purifiers…
How are we doing on the water supply? Because kahit baha it’s always the critical – the critical issue is water supply.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, both the province and the mayor can confirm this. The water is becoming a struggle but as mentioned, our partners, Manila Water and Maynilad, they have already mobilized potable drinking water in gallons.
We are currently working with the good people from the Air Force, so that we can airlift these water gallons kasi medyo marami ho sila.
The moment it lands — hopefully within today or tomorrow — then we should be okay because, Mr. President, marami-rami naman ho ‘yung ibinigay ng Manila Water and Maynilad.
These are the five gallons per container or the six gallons per container.
They answered our call and they are ready to mobilize already, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay. So, it’s still accessibility that we’re having to deal with — the lack of accessibility that we’re having to deal with.
Yes, all right.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, for — if I can just reiterate. For the province side — the pictures you are seeing are the operations of the province. Sa pagkain po talaga they’ve been quite aggressive already.
Governor Villafuerte, Congressman L-Ray, they’ve been on the ground. They’re using their boat brigades. Marami ho talaga silang umiikot ngayon na nagre-ration ng pagkain.
Dito ho kay Mayor Legacion, I think he’s doing the same. But we assured him na the stocks are ready, magkatabi naman kami ngayon. In fact, we’re plotting out the withdrawal already of the boxes from our regional warehouses.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Okay, that’s understood.
Okay, what other requirements — you make a good point about fuel. Is there anything else like that that we need to be attending to?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, the fuel kasi na-trap doon sa Milaor dahil naputol ‘yung road because of the flooding. But ‘yung province ho they are already looking at recovery. So, that’s why I spoke with Secretary Kiko kanina about — relayed to him the concern ng province, which Secretary Kiko said he’ll take care of.
And then sa DHSUD ho, they are also working I think with the undersecretaries of Secretary Acuzar about rebuilding the homes.
Nandoon na ho ‘yung mindset ng province on the recovery because they believe the water will recede hopefully this weekend. Kasi medyo naka — may araw na ho dito, Mr. President.
They said that’s the first time they’ve seen the sun in quite some time. So, they’re quite optimistic na bababa na ho ‘yung tubig. So, they’re already in the recovery mode, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very good. All right, okay, thank you.
Anything else that you would like to report?
Outside of Bicol, the other areas, what is the response so far of the DSWD? Central Luzon provinces that have already declared calamity – Cavite and Batangas – what are we doing in those areas?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, Mr. President, in the presentation that’s flashed, we have already released a total of 150,000 family food packs nationwide.
Mr. President, the numbers in CALABARZON are still coming in kasi kagabi lang namin nakukuha iyong mga numero because the effects started — they started feeling the effects last night.
But, Mr. President, to assure you, in CALABARZON and in the Metro Manila corridor, we have close to around 250,000 family food packs ready for dispatch anytime. So, Mr. President, we’re working with the local government units and the congressional offices, if they have the requirements to keep on releasing. We’ve been talking to the LGUs, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, okay. I don’t think in the other areas, we have such a problem with accessibility. Talagang sa Region V talaga ang … kasi iyong baha hindi umaalis.
I was asking some of the locals, is there something more that we can do to bring the water down o aantayin lang talaga natin hanggang bumaba? Wala tayong magawa para i-accelerate iyong paglabas ng tubig?
NAGA MAYOR LEGACION: Mr. President, sa parte po ng Naga, kasama na din po iyong Milaor area, mukhang ito talaga iyong parang basin. Dito bumababa lahat ng tubig na nanggagaling sa upper portion including those in Rinconada at from Albay mukhang maghihintay po talaga.
Sana maganda iyong panahon, and iyon naman iyong aming paniniwala. Baka mamaya and tomorrow mukhang passable na po iyong highways sa Milaor matapos na magsagawa ng clearing operations iyong DPWH, katulong iyong City Engineer’s Office ng Naga City.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, all right. I think we continue to concentrate on Region V for now because they’re the ones in most need. Everybody is in need but the accessibility problem of Region V is a little bit more pronounced than all the other areas.
Okay, thank you, Secretary Rex, for your report.
I’d just like to bring up the point that Secretary Rex talked about is the fuel. This always happens pagka walang access eh. What are we doing about that?
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SECRETARY GILBERTO TEODORO: Sir, talking with the fellow Cabinet members, just instructed OCD to find the road route in the Bondoc Peninsula and then [L?] cities from Bondoc Peninsula to Camarines Sur where we can ferry actually fuel vehicles, fuel tankers, et cetera.
So, there will be a shuttle – a food, water and fuel, sir, via crossing the Bondoc Peninsula, that body of sea to Pasacao.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Have they started to …
SEC. TEODORO: They will start today, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay.
SEC. TEODORO: And airlift, sir—
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nakaalis na sila or they will—?
SEC. TEODORO: They’re still logistisizing it, sir, but by today.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Putting it together.
SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir. And may I say also, Mr. President, Philippine Air Force already was able to go into Naga and to Legazpi, and we will continue the air bridge to take advantage of any gaps in the weather now.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: The things that coming up which we have experienced before is probably the need for airlift capability, sa rotary siguro kasi isolated areas. Kahit na hindi mapasok ng land vehicle, we should try at least. Because they are already in their second –two and a half days na sila sa Region V eh.
SEC. TEODORO: Sir, the 205th helicopter wing and the 505th search and rescue group are deploying all rotary assets already, sir, in the area.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. Yes, Secretary Toni.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES SECRETARY MARIA ANTONIA YULO-LOYZAGA: Sir, if I may, in previous disasters such as Odette, we mobilized the private sector to locate their stocks in the area and please provide access to stocks already in the area.
So, sir, fuel stocks sometimes are in depots and actually already in the proximate areas where they can actually be accessible. So, sir, if may suggest, we could call on the private sector to release. They’re here po, sir, represented today.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, okay. Sec. Manny.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS SECRETARY MANUEL BONOAN: Yes, Mr. President.
I think the only problematic section along the Maharlika Highway to reach Camarines Sur now is actually the section in Quezon, this is in the Lopez-Catanauan section. When the last few days, it was closed to traffic. But as of now, heavy vehicles can now pass through, Mr. President. So, I think there is a good chance for the vehicles now to pass through and go to the Camarines Sur, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Marami raw talagang ano, marami ang landslide. That areas where they did not have landslides before.
The former governor was just explaining to me, sa Cavite ganoon—ah, hindi, hindi sa Cavite – sa Batangas. Iyong mga area na hindi pa nakakita ng landslide noon, nag-landslide na ngayon. So, I guess, our problem iyong lupa is completely saturated eh. Wala na talagang pupuntahan iyong tubig.
Anyway, all right, okay. Thank you. I think next is the response of the Department of Health to the Typhoon Kristine. Can we hear from Secretary Ted.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SECRETARY TEODORO HERBOSA: Thank you, Mr. President. I’d just like to highlight the actions taken by the Department of Health.
We’ve activated actually Code Blue. Code Blue is our highest response to our disaster in Cagayan Valley, in Bicol, and Ilocos. We maintain Code White in the NCR, in Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas.
We’ve actually held a command conference, and some of the reports that came in, we have the… Most of the injuries actually came from the Bicol Region – 15 deaths. The landslide po, Mr. President, I think it’s very clear, iyong landslide kasi, they’re the ones that actually caused death eh.
So it’s very important that we map out where the high-risk communities are para ‘pag malakas ang ulan and when it’s continuous rain, we evacuate them also early, not only flood-prone. Kasi iyon iyong dapat siguro nating makita.
Eleven of the deaths of the 15 are from Bicol, and half of them were from the landslide. Of the recorded injuries, mostly mga wounds ito, you know, when people rescued out of their homes from floods, they get injured.
Of the hospitals po, we have nine facilities with minor damages. Of the two big hospitals in Bicol, Bicol Medical Center and Bicol Regional Medical Center in Albay, the one in Naga and one in Albay, are both functional although we lost power and we also lost damage to the internet server of our Bicol Medical Center. But the hospitals are functioning.
We have a couple of hospitals that are functional in Batangas but cannot be accessed because of floods. So iyon po iyong situation natin.
Of the goods that we have deployed, we have actually sent out 97 million pesos-worth of medical supplies and public health emergency supplies.
We’ve also given out 36 million-worth of water sanitation and hygiene. These are the blue jerrycans that we see in the evacuation centers. One can per family, and you just put one aqua tab and it’s potable also to replace our water filtration na hindi pa dumadating to provide drinking water for our people.
Then we also have allocated 6.8 million for nutrition, 1.8 million for psychosocial support, a total of 142 million pesos, Mr. President.
For the human resources, we’ve actually deployed our teams from the regional offices and hospitals. So, they’re actually there. We usually start with the needs assessment. What we found is the highest illness reported is respiratory infection, Mr. President. Kaya maganda iyong mga LGU na may … They build that compartmentalized because ang bilis ng spread of respiratory infection. Isang bata lang diyan may ubo, hawa-hawa na lahat.
So, some of the LGUs now put this compartmentalized per family so that the infections can be controlled.
I also asked our teams to distribute face masks kasi as we have more people in the evacuation centers, respiratory illness iyong number one. Marami rin tayong gastrointestinal illness and that’s solvable by potable drinking water.
So, we distributed also hygiene kits. Alam ninyo naman po, wala ng damit. They also need to take care of themselves, to clean themselves. So iyong hygiene kit is a green bucket. It has soap, shampoo, sanitary napkin ng mga babae – we actually distribute that sometimes nagdadala.
We’ve also distributed the… Before the emergency, we actually heightened our health emergency advisories and information on social media. All the advisories about the illnesses you can get during times of the typhoon.
And then we’ve also provided pr0phylaxis for our rescue workers. Sila iyong at risk kasi. So, we’re providing them antibiotics for infections they can get during rescue operations.
Iyon lang po ang aking report, Mr. President.
Basically, kaunti ang injuries and death for the magnitude of the disaster. And I thank the quick action of the Office of the President for suspending classes and work because that keeps people in their homes and safer rather than having work and then people getting trapped, injured or…
So, I think we can still go for improvements, especially for the landslides. Mataas po kasi ang mortality sa landslide, iyong drowning mapi-prevent natin iyon ‘pag na-rescue sila. Pero iyong landslide, isang bahay natabunan ng lupa, patay talaga iyong buong family nun, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you, Sec. Ted. Okay, let’s continue to respond at the — the first area that asked for medical help was again, Naga and Legazpi, around Region V because marami nga silang casualty.
And iyon na nga, we haven’t been able to go in yet but we have… Well, the medicals that are in place are operating now.
How are we doing on communication, Gilbert? Bumalik na generally ang communication?
I know power is going to take time. But…
SEC. TEODORO: Sir, with us, we have OCD systems —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: You have sufficient communication.
SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir.
METROPOLITAN MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN ROMANDO ARTES: Sir, Mr. President, update lang po doon sa mga water purifiers. As of 10 a.m. po this morning, nakatawid na po ng Milaor iyong team po natin na may dala pong water purifiers.
Mayroon pa po tayong naiwan dito sa Metro Manila na about 30 water purifiers na we can deploy at any time, naka-standby po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ilan na ang nakarating?
CHAIRMAN ARTES: Forty po iyong pinadala po natin and we still have around 30 na pwede pa pong i-deploy, Mr. President. As of 10 a.m., kasama na po iyong team natin ng PDRRMO po ng CamSur, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, iyong team ninyo, itong 50-person team nakapasok na? Nandoon na sila?
CHAIRMAN ARTES: Yes, sir. As of 10 a.m. po, Mr. President. Naipit po kasi sila sa Lopez and then Milaor, nagpalipas po sila ng gabi kagabi. Then as of 9:30 po, nakatawid na po sila, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. All right. Iyong mga gamit ninyo, nai-deliver ninyo palabas?
CHAIRMAN ARTES: Opo, naitawid na po. Nasa Naga City—
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi, pero mula sa Naga kasi ang mga nangangailangan sa labas din ng Naga, hindi lamang sa doon sa loob ng city.
CHAIRMAN ARTES: Yes, po. Kasama na po ng PDRRMO ng CamSur and may dala rin po kaming mga bangka, Mr. President, for deployment po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right.
SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: Mr. President, if I may on landslides?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I think, the NIA Director has…
NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATOR EDUARDO GUILLEN: Mr. President, on a lighter note naman po, malaki ang naitulong ng mga dams natin sa pag-mitigate ng baha ‘no.
In the case of Magat Dam, nakapag-prerelease po kami. So, napababa namin ng mga eight meters iyong level. So, noong dumating na iyong malakas na ulan, ang inflow was 3,200 cubic meters per second ano, napakalakas talaga. So, ang release na lang namin noon is mga around 700 so na-mitigate po natin iyong baha doon.
Parehas din ng kuwento niyan sa Jalaur Dam. Itong ating Pantabangan naman po ay nasa 14 meters pa naman iyong kailangan niyang punuin so malaki rin po naitulong nito. And, in the case of San Roque Dam, Mr. President, nag-release ang Ambuklao kanina…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo. Nakita namin iyong report kanina, the one that was put up earlier. Mukha namang nakontrol na mabuti iyong level ng dam at mayroon tayong nagawa ahead of time na para hindi tayo mabigla and then we will release na naman kagaya nung nangyari noon.
So, anyway… Oo, mabuti iyon. At let’s maintain that standard procedure from now on na pagka basta’t may parating. Lalo na ngayon, mukha iyong mga bagyo, talagang ang daming tubig na dala kaya’t iyon ang ating kailangan alalayan.
All right. Let’s move on now to the funding that will be required to support all of these relief and support and recovery for all of these areas. So, we ask DBM. Sec. Mina, if you can…
DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SECRETARY AMENAH PANGANDAMAN: Yes, Mr. President, good morning, and good morning to the members of the Cabinet.
I will briefly show all our possible sources of funding. Presented on the slide is the status of the NDRRM Fund releases from 2024 GAA and 2023 Continuing Appropriations. As of October 24, 2024, the NDRRM Fund has a total available balance of 1.983 billion pesos; of which, 1.845 billion is from our 2024 General Appropriations Act and the remaining 139 million pesos is from 2023 Continuing Appropriations.
However, from the remaining balance, we still have a pending request for QRF replenishment for SARO issuance in the total of one billion pesos broken down as follows: DPWH, one billion pesos; DILG-PNP, 25 million pesos; and, DND-OCD, 37.5 million pesos. The available balance of the NDRRMF after the issuance of SARO for this QRF augmentation request will be 921.4 million pesos.
Now, on the QRF, based on the tentative reports submitted by respective implementing departments and agencies as of September 30, 2024, the recipient agencies were able to obligate 14.7 billion pesos or 48.8 percent out of the total allocations received for QRF as of October 24, 2024 of the 30.093 billion pesos.
The fiscal year 2024 allotment received for QRF is at 19.088 billion pesos which is broken down as follows: for agency’s specific QRF appropriations, it’s 7.925 billion pesos and for QRF replenishments from NDRRMF, it’s 11.163 billion pesos. The fiscal year 2023 Continuing Appropriations of 11 billion pesos represents QRF Unobligated Allotments for Fiscal Year 2023.
Now, on the next slide, we will show the utilization rates of recipient departments and agencies. To date, the slide shows that the DILG-PNP was able to obligate a total amount received of QRF amounting to 58 million pesos. On the other hand, the DepEd-OSEC with the highest QRF allocation of 3.5 billion pesos recorded the second lowest utilization with only 7.43%, slightly higher than the DILG-BFP of 7.34%.
Showed on the slide, Mr. President, are the balances of the QRF that are already within the departments. As you can see, Mr. President, for the Department of Agriculture, they still have more than 1.5 billion ready for usage; for DepEd, more than 3 billion for repairs of school buildings; DILG-Bureau of Fire, they still have budget; PNP, they’ve already used up their QRF; OCD, almost finished with 75 percent; DPWH-OSEC, they still have roughly 60 percent of their QRF fund for usage; DSWD, it’s almost finished – I’m in touch with Sec. Rex and just waiting for the request for the balance of QRF that you need. It’s more than, roughly I think 500 million pesos. I’m just waiting for the letter, Sec., and then we’ll release it within the day; and then the DOH, sir, we still have funding but let me know if you need more; and then, DOTr-Philippine Coast Guard, 50 percent of their budget has been utilized.
Now, for other funding sources, we all know that Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund wherein not less than 5 percent of the estimated revenue from local government units’ regular sources can also be used to support disaster risk management activities including pre-disaster preparedness programs, post-disaster activities and for the payment of premiums of calamity insurance.
Of the amount appropriated 30 percent shall be allocated for respective QRFs, Mr. President. Under funding sources, Section 22, all government departments, bureaus, offices and agencies are authorized to use a portion of their appropriations to implement projects, designed to address DRRM in accordance with guidelines issued by the NDRRMC in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management.
For example, under the DPWH, they still have a balance of 4.38 billion, which I think they have been using it, that can cover maintenance of regularly perform on national roads and bridges throughout the year. The maintenance activities include among others, various work categories, such as temporary repairs of roadways, shoulder maintenance, drainage maintenance, replacement of pavements, among others. Sec. Manny, this is on top of the QRF requirement that you requested.
And the same with the Department of Health, the MAIP, to date, we still have a balance of 11 million, Secretary. So, I guess it’s already downloaded to the respective regional offices. We hope that they will be able to utilize and then we’ll be releasing, I guess 10 billion. You have a pending request now of P10 billion, it’s for signature today, so we will have it released today, Secretary, Mr. President.
And another source could be the contingent fund. It provides — it has a balance of P10.33 billion to date, Mr. President. The appropriation may be utilized for funding requirements of new and urgent activities or projects of the national government agencies, GOCCs, local government units that needs to be implemented or paid during the year, Mr. President. So, we still have P10.33 billion of this.
Assuming we need more, Mr. President, we still have… I just received a certification from the Bureau of Treasury, Department of Finance, for unprogrammed appropriations. So, assuming, we need more funding, Mr. President, we can tap the unprogrammed appropriations.
Rest assured, Mr. President and members of the Cabinet, that the DBM remains unwavering in the commitment to provide funds to the agencies that require support for programs focused on immediate disaster response and rehabilitation, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, certainly the ones that to the different agencies are already with them, so that’s readily available. The other requirements, like siguro, Jonvic, iyong mga QRF ng local wala na iyan, ubos na iyan, matagal nang naubos iyan. So, they will need more support.
SEC. REMULLA: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Anyway, so doon natin kukunin, not only the agencies, but also from the DBM kung ano pa iyong mga kailangan natin. Now is the time to download all of the MAIP and AICS and ayuda that we still have.
All right, that’s pretty much it. There is just one thing, I wanted to ask the experts. If there is another approaching weather system, we have to take that into account. Because kung aayusin natin, and then three days later, sisirain din ng susunod, sayang lang iyong ginawa natin. At the same time, in those three days, kailangan ng tao na may daan.
How do we handle this so that we make maximum use of our resources? Sec. Gilbert, maybe you have an idea on what is the concept, how we should apply our resources. Certainly, ang mga relief, iyong mga rescue relief, wala na, hindi natin pwedeng i-delay iyan dahil buhay na ng tao iyan. So, we just have to keep going in that.
Now, when it comes to the rebuilding or repairing, all of these things, what are the… We have to think in the slightly, not short term. Paano ang handling natin diyan? Kasi iyon ang inaalala ko, madalas mangyari iyan eh. Bagong gawa iyong kalsada o whatever, kaka-inaugurate, ribbon cutting lang natin, one week later sira na dahil may dumaan na bagyo. That’s what I would like to, hopefully to avoid. Sec. Manny.
SEC. BONOAN: Yes, Mr. President. I think the protocol that we are adopting in the department is once ‘yung — in response to calamities is actually – the first thing that we do is actually just to clear out the roadways, actually to restore immediate traffic.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyon necessary iyon kasi we need those thoroughfares para ipasok iyong gamit at saka iyong mga tao. That is what we are going to have to contend with.
SEC. BONOAN: And then after that, we have to look into the permanent restoration program for those damages, Mr. President, to be more permanent, especially iyong mga vulnerable areas.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, yes. But in all that we do, let’s keep that in mind. Wimpy, you wanted to add something.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY UNDERSECRETARY FELIX WILLIAM FUENTEBELLA: The time that you were sponsoring the Department of Housing in Urban Dev, there is an enumeration of the MHS policy on basic needs and the hierarchy. And that was designed precisely to respond to situations like this, so the priorities are as follows: it’s water facilities that we have to concentrate on. So, during these three days, we have to replenish water and then the energy, including the fuel and then the food, clothing, shelter, health, education and then the rest is what was mentioned by DPWH, it’s access, it’s livelihood, its recreation and ICT and the overall security where the PNP and the other security sector is concerned.
So, demands-based approach po siya and doon po iyong tutukan ng government and the community. Proteksyunan iyong 13 basic needs and then let’s prepare for the next.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Well, what my concern that I just spoke about, about fixing something that will just be destroyed a few days later, that also applies to power. Kaya iyan ang kailangan ating alalahanin.
Anyway, it’s not an easy situation, there is no simple answer to any of these. We will just have to keep monitoring the situation and make sure there is always rescue and relief are – that cannot stop. It doesn’t matter if there is another storm coming, we cannot stop, that cannot stop.
And then the support that we are giving, that DSWD giving is those who have been displaced, who are still in evacuation centers or they are staying with the — outside of their own homes, wherever that might be, with relatives or friends, that also, that also cannot stop.
So, those are the main elements, I think. Sa Agri, Sec. Kiko, at what, nakapag-ani na ba or they are in the middle of harvest?
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TIU LAUREL JR.: Mr. President, we have already harvested about, depending on each area, 60 to 70 percent. And actually before the storm hit, a week before the storm hit, we accelerated harvesting and buying from NFA din. So, nakatulong naman iyon, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, so we’ll have to make up for that 30 to 40 percent kung sakali na outright na destroyed.
SEC. LAUREL: Hopefully, hindi naman ho, but yes. We have enough stock, sir. Then, we have Kadiwa trucks also going to CamSur and we also have NFA rice ordered by the LGUs being deployed as we speak to prepare for what is coming. We also instructed NFA to send additional rice above and beyond what was requested.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Just keep me updated about the damages that our people are seeing, in terms of the agricultural sector. All right, well, that’s the situation now.
As we have already experienced, as we have experienced many, many times, there are phases to the thing. There is the rescue phase, then the relief phase, and then the recovery phase, where we start to bring our people back to their normal homes, residences.
It is made much more complicated by the fact that ang lawak nung effect. Napakalawak nung effect ng bagyo. So, what happened is that, Bicol is in one phase; Central Luzon is in another phase; Region I, II, will be in another phase. So, it became complicated, because ang laki ang pagkatama, tapos ang tama hindi sabay-sabay, iba-iba. At siyempre dumaan nang dahan-dahan. So, we just have to be more creative and be able to maximize our resources.
All right, nandiyan na iyong sundo ko. We are going to make an inspection. So, okay, just keep me informed and whatever problems arise, just raise them up with me.
And if not, actually amongst yourselves, if you can solve it, let’s do it that way as quickly as possible. Just remember, there are people still in water right now. They are still flooded. They are walking around with water up to their waist. They have no water supply. They have no food. They have no place to stay. So, if you think you are tired, think about what their condition is.
So, let’s always keep that in mind. And as a last item, I am happy to note that our partners in the private sector are here. There is the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.
PHILIPPINES DISASTER RESILIENCE FOUNDATION: I’m over here, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, there you are. And ARISE from the SM Group, and of course the Red Cross who is always present at these things. Thank you for your attention and thank you for the help that you will be providing.
Okay, I think that’s it for now. Maraming salamat.
—END—
