PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good morning, everyone.

This is our SOP every time we have a storm coming into our Area of Responsibility. So, we will start today with – before the – we have already people moving, starting to approach the area but we cannot really do much until the storm passes – not the storm but the severe weather.

Anyway, let’s proceed. Let me call to order the Situation Briefing on Storm Kristine. There is a briefer. Let us start with… Let us go down our usual procedure and start with the weather situation from PAGASA.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR NATHANIEL SERVANDO: Good morning, Mr. President and distinguished members of the Cabinet. Allow me to present the DOST-PAGASA brief report on Tropical Storm Kristine as of 8 this morning.

This is actually the current satellite image showing the circulation of Storm Kristine. Nasa east pa ng Luzon ang sentro nito but the cloudiness associated with the storm is located west or south of the storm sa center.

And currently it is located 310 kilometers east of Baler, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour at bugso na aabot ng 105 kilometers per hour moving west northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

Now, almost the whole of northern…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Can you show us the track?

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: Yes po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: With the forecast times, when the center of the storm will be at what time.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: Yes, and the succeeding slide, sir…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah, all right, sige, you’ll get to that.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: The whole of northern, central and southern Luzon is under Signal No. 2 while the whole of Visayas ay covered or under Signal No. 1.

In particular under Signal No. 2 the provinces of: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, the Northern and Eastern Portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and the Northeastern Portion of Sorsogon.

While Signal No. 1 in the provinces of: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, the rest of Sorsogon, and Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: You don’t have to read out every single… We have this information. Sige, let’s go on.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: Okay, this is actually, Mr. President, the track of Tropical Storm Kristine. It is moving northwestward the next 12 hours and then westward.

Ito po ay inaasahan na mag-landfall sa may Isabela or northern Aurora mamayang gabi or early morning tomorrow, October 24. Inaasahan ito na mag-exit ng Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, October 25.

Now, we expect also na the storm will — is likely intensify into a severe tropical storm bago po ito mag-landfall in the area.

And then upon crossing northern Luzon, inaasahan natin na mag-weaken slightly.

What to expect in terms of heavy rainfall? Inaasahan natin today ang intense to torrential rainfall more than 200 millimeters of rain sa mga lalawigan ng Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

While heavy to intense rainfall: the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Rizal, Albay, and Sorsogon.

While moderate to heavy rainfall today: the rest of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, including Metro Manila, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Masbate, and Northern Samar.

For tomorrow inaasahan natin na napakalakas ng mga pag-ulan sa mga lalawigan ng Pangasinan, Zambales, and La Union.

Samantala, heavy to intense rain: the rest of Ilocos Region, CAR, and Bataan.

While moderate to heavy rains tomorrow in: Tarlac, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro.

Now on Friday, we expect gradual improvement of the weather but moderate to heavy rains ay maasahan pa rin sa mga lalawigan ng: Pangasinan, Zambales, and La Union. Dahil during this day ine-expect natin na lalabas na po ang bagyong si Kristine.

In terms of severe winds, dahil sa malawak ang circulation na sakop ng Kristine even those hindi sakop ng signal, storm wind signal, even in Mindanao ay inaasahan natin na makakaranas ng malakas na hangin.

For today, MIMAROPA, Visayas, and Mindanao. For tomorrow, ito po ‘yung mga lugar or provinces na makakaranas ng malalakas na hangin. And on Friday as well.

Dahil po inaasahan natin ang mga lugar na under Signal No. 2 habang papalapit ang Bagyong Kristine sa kalupaan ng northern and Central Luzon, inaasahan natin ang storm surge.

Nagpalabas ang DOST-PAGASA ng storm surge warning. Ang orange colored ito po ‘yung mga dalampasigan na makakaranas ng storm surge na between 2 to 3 meters kaya pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan living along these coastal areas na maghanda o maging alerto.

While ‘yung nakadilaw, ito po ‘yung up to 2 meters ang wave height dahil sa storm surge.

Now, ito naman po ang status ng ating mga dams. Although, generally ang mga dams level natin ay safe. But like for example, Angat, bagamat umakyat ng 0.34 meters but ang normal high level niya ay mataas pa. Yes, po?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: This is the one we should be keeping an eye on. There are two pages to this, actually.

So far, ang pinakamalapit is Pantabangan to the high level – normal high water level — if I am not mistaken. Nonetheless, whatever it is… Ay mayroon pa yata dito, 80, 80.5.

Anyway, we have to watch this carefully because we are just beginning, this is just the start of the rainfall. So, yes we are all right for now, but mukhang inevitable na mago-overflow o magre-release tayo ng tubig.

So, let’s already start thinking about the downstream areas na tatamaan when we release the – when we have to, when we are forced to open some of the gates para palabasin ‘yung tu – para pababain ‘yung tubig.

Pero planuhin natin nang mabuti. Maybe if we can… Maybe what we can do is do a measured response. Kahit hindi pa high water level, magbitaw na tayo nang kaunti. Pababain na natin na hindi apektado ‘yung mga downstream communities.

Magbitaw na tayo ng tubig para pagdating nung malakas na ulan mababa na – hindi naman mababa pero mas naibaba natin ‘yung tubig para mayroon tayong kaunting ano – mayroon tayong kaunting breathing room, ika nga.

We have a little area to watch na hindi papaabutin natin sa high water. Well, it is the… ‘Yan gate open wala pa naman so far.

OFFICIAL: Mr. President, that’s continued spillage already for Binga and Magat.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes. So, let’s think about what can the downstream communities tolerate in terms of additional water and do that, and try to release that amount, just that amount na hindi magkaka-damage, hindi magkakapinsala, hindi mababaha. Iyong kaya nung actual na outflow na hindi naaabala ‘yung mga downstream communities.

In other words, let’s try to get the levels as low as we can without affecting the downstream communities bago pa dumating ‘yung malaking ulan.

Because from what we are looking at, it really looks like this storm is more about flooding. May hangin nang kaunti but it’s not to the extent of the other super typhoons that we have seen so far.

So, again, water level seems to be the key factor for Kristine.

All right, so, please carry on.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: That’s all, Mr. President, for my presentation.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Now, the OCD, I think, has some information to provide with us.

OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Good morning, Mr. President and Cabinet members.

So, may I have the presentation, please. For Office of Civil Defense.

So, the scope of the presentation would be the situation overview, and then the humanitarian effects, the response, and the gaps.

This has already been presented by the PAGASA, so, next slide please.

So, basically, Mr. President and Cabinet members, you’ve seen already in the reports that the massive flooding and unprecedented flooding happened in Region V. Although because of the massive or the circulation and the rainband, it also affected other areas.

You would see that the darker parts are the severity of the flooding events, specifically in Region V. And if you would look at it, more than 23,000 — more than 150,000 has been affected.

And in terms of casualties, very minimal as of this point in time. And there was already the suspension of classes and the declaration of state of calamity.

And in terms of status of lifelines, as of this point in time as well, as of reporting time, is still as minimal as that. But I think the most important thing to look at, especially on as the reports come in or the information comes in, would be the damages on agriculture and even of the livelihood assets of the people.

Yes, sir?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Can we go on back?

OCD OFFICIAL: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: One page back.

Iyong status of lifelines is something important that we have to monitor nang mabuti. Simply because we are going to have to go into the storm affected areas at some point.

So, what we have to know for our own people is what are the roads that are passable, what are not, what need to be opened, ano i-prioritize natin. Kasi as it is already, 93 out of 106 road sections are not passable, seaports out of 34 in CALABARZON are non-operational — 34 out of 34 are non-operational, 10 out of 10 bridges in Region V… So, talagang naka — it’s isolated. The whole region actually is, to a great extent, is isolated.

OCD OFFICIAL: Sir, basically, some of the inactivity of the seaports and other communication lines were precautionary measures.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes understood.

OCD OFFICIAL: That has been undertaken. And well noted, sir, on what you have mentioned that we are still going to see more of the effects later on as the storm passes.

As what has been mentioned by PAGASA, there’s a lot of coverage in terms of areas to be affected still. And these are still initial reports po. And some of them are precautionary measures being undertaken.

And as I have mentioned, there would still a lot to see in terms of damages and losses to agriculture, specifically to the livelihoods of people. And maybe that would be the next part on what to do next.

And in terms of response, of course, in immediate response because it’s flooding, of course the need for rubber boats and water search and rescue has been identified early on.

And I think one of the issues that we have right now which we’ll be seeing in the later slides would be the need for logistics to transport, sir. Not just to transport people but to evacuate people from harm’s way ‘no.

And these are the additional needs that we are looking at. And as what I’ve mentioned, the gaps.

Until this morning there were already request for additional rubber boats that’s why Office of Civil Defense has already been coordinating with some areas, specifically with Region VI or Region VII, if there would be available rubber boats to augment the requirement in Region V.

And for those areas that has not been affected yet, where the storm is about to cross, they have already prepositioned more water search and rescue equipment.

Of course, because of this massive flooding and expected to be more of which, water sanitation and hygiene would be affected, specifically the ground water or the drinking water as well, and even water for domestic use.

Food and NFIs, food specifically would be needed again in the coming days because of the evacuation that has happened, especially in evacuation centers. NFIs in terms of shelter kits — shelter repair kits, and also some of the kitchen kits that would be needed, especially with the houses that has been affected, even the second floor areas. So, understandably, there would be more request for NFIs. I’ve mentioned already about the shelter repair kits.

Office of Civil Defense and also with the Secretary of National Defense, chair NDRRMC, have already given some kind of additional guidance to the Office of Civil Defense to seek or to somewhat consider the request for international assistance for augmentation on logistic requirement, specifically for transport.

Yes, sir?

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SECRETARY GILBERTO TEODORO: Mr. President, If I may.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, please.

SEC. TEODORO: Because I instructed our staff to make their own estimates of the possible effects of the rain in the coming days, we have the available assets to answer for lift capabilities as of this time.

However, in the exercise of caution, we are planning two things: to foresee the effects in the coming days… In the aftermath of the disaster risk convention, we are coordinating now with our ASEAN neighbors. I have already talked to our Singaporean Ambassador to marshal their capabilities for airlift and other manpower assistance that they can pitch in. And we will talk to our traditional partners in the next few days in anticipation of airlift needs and other rescue needs, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay.

OCD OFFICIAL: So, Mr. President, we’ve been — from PAGASA, what we are doing here in Office of Civil Defense is to manage the information that we’re getting.

So, we come up with likely scenarios. So, the Regions I, II, III, and CAR, and CALABARZON — since the storm has not passed them yet, we’re still expecting the… Actually, it’s not just a likely scenario, the worst-case scenario for this matter.

When we do our contingency plan, we would always come up with the worst-case scenario.

So, as what the Secretary of National Defense had mentioned, were looking at planning for the next time ‘no, for the next few days.

And this is what we are looking into that there would be gradual intensification and these are the areas that would be affected: Regions I, II, III, CAR, CALABARZON. In terms of wind damage, not so much but in terms of flood or water damages.

And actually, what we are also must — most concern, these areas, especially Batanes or the northernmost part of the country has been already affected recently by Tropical Cyclone Julian. And I think they haven’t much recovered yet. Actually, they are still requesting for some NFIs.

And these are the hazards that we are considering as far as the passage of this tropical cyclone would be in those areas.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES SECRETARY MARIA ANTONIA YULO-LOYZAGA: Mr. President, if I may?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, please. Go ahead.

SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: So, Mr. President, what you see there is an image of a combined rainfall, and flood, and landslide risk analysis from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the DENR.

So, that’s barangay scale, sir. So, we can actually look at the level of risk to the barangay.

So, we have a listing that we supply to OCD in terms of the potential —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, that is [unclear].

SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: Yes, sir, it’s a combined model for weather, landslide, and flood risk together down to the barangay scale.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, so we can count on this data?

SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: Yes, sir.

OCD OFFICIAL: So, basically, sir. Based on those — all of those information, flood risk, landslide risk, we are able to translate that on the number of most vulnerable people that could be affected wherever.

And that is coming from the information coming from DSWD. So we are… The most vulnerable we’re looking at the Listahanan as an information coming from DSWD and this would be the reference for the planning figure for our response.

And since there was also preparations being done in Batanes, this is an example of a response ex-ante before a tropical cycle would come. This is very much Filipino, culturally recognized. They are already strengthening houses. That is happening as of now in — as of yesterday or even two days ago in Batanes once they received their information.

I think this is a very important — a classic example of how we prepare for tropical cyclones if wind damage would be expected. But nevertheless, this is how it is being done right now.

That’s all, Mr. President. Thank you.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, thank you. Okay, it looks pretty clear that this one is more about the volume of water that is going to be dropped in the areas. And unfortunately, I think it would be prudent to consider that we are only beginning. This is just the beginning.

Now, we’re running into — we are experiencing the same phenomenon that we have been — that I have been commenting on, all of us have been noticing — ang bilis mag-develop nung bagyo. It was just a low pressure area and now look at pati the strength of it. And the volume of water are — the volumes of water are unprecedented.

Okay, so, ‘yun ang kailangan natin bantayan. So, question, DSWD, Sec. Rex, how — nakapag-forward placement ba tayo ng gamit?

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY REX GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, I knew you were going to ask that. I have one slide and one slide lang if we can pull it up?

Mr. President, we’re back to the 2-million mark. This is the national stockpile. The red number is the total number of stockpiled goods nationwide, 2 million. This was pre-Carina level eh. We had a very good run ng production this past couple of weeks. Now, if…

Mr. President, NROC is our Pasay hub. So, we have around 176,000. Our Visayas hub has around 250,000. That’s family food packs.

Now, NCR mas kaunti, Mr. President, because we draw from the Pasay hub anyway. But the identified regions have very high stockpiles. Region I has 93,000; Region II has 109,000; Region III has 170,000; IV-A, 101[,000]; IV-B 101[,000]. And then when before this Carina, na tail of Carina hit us, we had close to 162, 000 in Bicol.

So, as of yesterday, Mr. President, we started distributing already and we continue to distribute. Now, we are already in the replenishment stage.

Our Pasay hub is running at 20,000 a day, so that when the stockpiles of these offices go down, we can keep on sending them.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Are there areas still that we haven’t — we cannot reach?

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, I was over the phone with the Mayor of Naga. In fact, Naga alone, marami pang roads na impassable. Then, I was with — I was exchanging messages with Cong. L-Ray yesterday…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Do we know kung bakit — why is it impassable? Nasira ba ‘yung daan? O nag-landslide? Ah tubig lang?

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS SECRETARY MANUEL BONOAN: Mainly for localized flooding, Mr. President.

But I’m happy to report, Mr. President that the Maharlika Highway, except for the section of Calbayog City, the entire Maharlika Highway up to Manila now is passable now.

Except — there is one section in Milaor which is actually, only heavy vehicles can pass by now. But I understand from the report of my Regional Director now, just now, that the rains have simmered down a little bit. So, there is good chance that by this afternoon, the entire traffic will be restored along Maharlika Highway.

However, there are many road sections — secondary road sections that remain to be closed for now because of localized flooding.

And may mga soil collapse, Mr. President. But our people now are in the field actually taking out all this debris and to restore the traffic immediately, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: To give us a better…Can we have the map again of PAGASA, of the track of the storm?

This is — I think this is our — going to be our best guide on what… Can I have the — can we have the map that you put up earlier on — it is the PAGASA map of…? There you go, okay.

So, this is what the — this is what we can expect. By Wednesday — by 5 pm today, it will be off the eastern coast, it will not — the center of the storm will not even – will not have landed yet. And again, what is your forecast for landfall? What time and what place?

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: It’s about 8 later this evening, Mr. President, or early morning tomorrow. And from, yeah, around 8 —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Aurora — ang landfall Aurora, kamo?

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: Yes, Aurora area, province.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: And then this is — if it’s going at how — what speed, 15 kilometers an hour?

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: 85 kilometers per hour.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No, that’s the storm ano. The —

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: The speed is 15 kilometers per hour.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, 15 kilometers an hour. So, ganyan ang magiging takbo. Usually, we are pretty accurate when — as long as the storm has fully developed we’re pretty accurate. So, ito ‘yung kailangan nating abangan.

These are the areas that… For example, I think we can start with the habang — ‘pag lumalayo na sa Bicol, sa Region V, pwede na nating gawin lahat ng pwede nating gawin.

Pero ‘wag na natin pasukin muna ang Region I, Region II dahil parating pa lang. So, pabayaan muna… There’s nothing we can do except wait for it to pass. Give all the warnings that we can give. Evacuate as many people as we can.

But to… But we really have to ‘yung tinatawag na just batten down the hatches for a day and make sure that everybody has what they need, everybody has the emergency supplies.

Mayroon silang ilaw, mayroon silang tubig. But maybe we’ll have to shut that down pero ‘wag sana tumagal masyado. But in the meantime, mag-aano na tayo, mag-isip na tayo how we are go — when we can go in with our equipment for the public works, and the — to open whatever, to open all the thoroughfares.

DSWD, once they are open… If they are not open, we will look to SND to fly it in perhaps, if that’s the best that we can do.

Patulong din tayo — we can ask the Coast Guard also. The Coast Guard also plays a part in that naman. So, mag-ready na tayo but this is the — all of us should have this map in our office, looking at this, and this is what we have to anticipate.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, just to go back to your early question, bottom line, we plotted that, all our field offices have ample supplies in those areas. Actually, we went back to pre-Carina level, so our stockpile is quite strong. Okay ho tayo on the ground.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. The problem is that it is not such a strong storm but the effects are very wide.

Kung titingnan mo ang layo ng Bicol actually doon sa center of the storm eh. Pero tingnan — I’ve seen the news reports, ang laki ng tubig eh. Marami talagang binagsak na tubig.

It’s wide-ranging kahit na hindi — 85 kilometers, we can prepare for that. Tapos panay — dahil nga na madalas ‘yung bagyo, na-saturate na ang lupa.

So, what we have to anticipate now, let’s all prepare with whatever ‘yung, ‘yung mga equipment ng DPWH, ‘yung mga airlift ng AFP, ‘yung mga relief goods and kung anuman or whatever — all the other that we are doing.

SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: Mr. President —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Sec. Jonvic, everybody is well-informed naman. Those areas that are under that circle.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY JUANITO VICTOR REMULLA JR.: Yes, sir. Out of the 1,252 LCEs, 87 are present in their municipalities; unaccounted for are 175, they are either on medical or foreign travel. But all of them informed – all of them have activated their disaster response scenarios.

SEC. YULO-LOYZAGA: Sir, if I may. Sir, on the part of the DENR, we’ve also reached out to the private sectors, to the mining industry.

So, they are now informed that they may be called to assist in response and recovery, probably rescue if need be, since they have the technical equipment and they have the manpower to perform rescue in terms of possible landslide and other situations.

We’ve also asked and coordinated with Philippine Space Agency. They have activated also image acquisition so we can actively monitor the extent of the impact sa —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: But from PAGASA, this — the data that is coming in from space agencies incorporated in your forecast? Oo, kasama iyan eh. Ang pagkaintindi ko kasama talaga iyan. Basta may function — sometimes our satellites.

PAGASA ADMINISTRATOR SERVANDO: Yes, Mr. President, we have access from meteorological satellites such as from Japan and…

PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s right. We need to get all the best data that we can.

Well, I think, we are reasonably well prepared. The power is going to go out, whatever we do.

Well, we just follow our regular procedure. We take down the power when it is not safe to keep our — to keep the cables energized and then come back.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SECRETARY RAPHAEL LOTILLA: Mr. President, we have 16 electric cooperatives, which are partially out of power. Four are completely without power, including Sorsogon, Biliran, and as far down as Siargao.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, I know. I was surprised to hear.

SEC. LOTILLA: So, they’re — but NEA is already coordinating insofar as rehabilitating the ones in the Bicol Region, 69Kv lines have been affected also in a number of areas. So, NGCP as you said will be coming in as the weather situation improves.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes. Well, again, we turn the power off precisely to keep it safe. And then go back and they look at the damage, see how we can repair it.

There is sometimes a tendency in these areas because we want – they say “bring the power back immediately, bring the power back immediately.”

So, jerry-rigged lang ‘yung mga ginagawa nila. But then, it becomes permanent. And that makes the power – the system frail not robust.

I don’t know how we get around that. Because talagang there’s a very, very strong demand: “Ibalik n’yo ‘yung kuryente kaagad, kaagad. As quickly as possible. Bilis, bilis, bilis.”. So kung ano-ano na lang ginagawa. Hindi, that’s really that…

Kaya ‘yung mga nakikita n’yo na wire na buhol-buhol, ‘yun ‘yun eh. Oo, dahil nagmamadali. Kahit papaano sige basta ilagaya mo diyan. “Magsho-short ‘yan”. “Hindi na bale. Basta ilagay mo. Sige, okay na ‘yan.” Tapos dapat babalikan, pero hindi na binabalikan. So we have to be conscious of that so that we make our systems more robust.

SEC. LOTILLA: We’ll take note of that, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo nga. Oo. All right.

Well, again, sa health, you’ll go in as soon as you can?

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SECRETARY TEODORO HERBOSA: Yes.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Basically, we can start to go in, I don’t know, it depends also on public works and the availability of airlift. But we cannot go in right now.

Maybe parts of Bicol baka maumpisahan na natin. Baka pwede nang lumipad ang helicopter or something like that para makapasok man lang, makapag-report nang mabuti kung ano ‘yung sitwasyon.

But the point right now is that the storm is actually still off of our coast, it’s not yet in – it hasn’t made landfall yet.

So, the worst is yet to come, I’m afraid. So, let’s all prepare – let’s just all prepare so that the minute that we get the signal that it’s okay to go in, we’ll all be able to go in.

It doesn’t mean that that signal will be the same for everyone. Of course, the airlift will go in first. And then once the public works has been able to open at least the main thoroughfares, then everything else will go in: health will go in, the relief goods will go in.

Wala tayong magagawa. We just… I’m feeling a little helpless here because we cannot… All we can do is sit tight, wait, hope, pray that there’s not too much damage, that there are no casualties.

And then go in as soon and as quickly as possible with as much as we can to alleviate the effects, especially first to the population. And then afterwards, we will take care of all the other infrastructure: the power, the roads.

Let’s watch again, again those dams, because we don’t want the situation that happened in Cagayan Valley. We just released without telling anyone, and there was no plan, and we all remember what happened there. So, iwasan natin iyon.

But let’s anticipate, let’s be proactive about it. Let’s not wait for the levels to reach the maximum. Kung kaya, mag-release na tayo nang kahit kaunti lang para hindi biglaan na makapag-relaese para hindi mag-overflow. So, let’s think in those terms that we’ll plan ahead.

All the dams that we think will be affected, let’s think about already releasing some water so that when the real water comes, it will be not as bad. Yeah.

What else? What have we missed? Yes, SND.

SEC. TEODORO: Mr. President, since this is a big – it will need big logistics, and coming from areas which are not affected, we would encourage coordination to keep the roadways in the areas not affected free so that our trucks and other vehicles can freely move.

And so we will be working closely with the Executive Secretary to recommend suspension of work or classes in the areas where we need to marshal our logistics just to keep the roadways free, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, the — like in any ano, the first responders are going to be the local governments. Sila ang una talagang makakapasok diyan.

Let’s try –let’s be sure that kung mayroon talagang request for assistance, we try and give them the assistance. Kasi mayroon talagang mga problema na hindi kaya ng local government o kulang ang local government, they need more.

So, let’s make sure na maganda iyong coordination natin with the… At saka ‘yung sa – sa mga lokal, tumawag sila at magsabi sila kung ano ‘yung pangyayari.

SEC. REMULLA: As of present, Congressman L-Ray already conveyed this need for assistance as soon as possible, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Just stay in very close contact with them so that we know what their situation is.

And if there will be – they have an emergency request for augmentation of some kind ‘di ba, para maka-respond kaagad ang national.

SEC. BONOAN: Mr. President, I think for clearing of roads, we’re happy to report also that there is no bridge that collapse, actually.

So, I think as soon as the water subsides in the locally- flooded areas, our response teams will now be able to enter into clearing all the debris like fallen trees and the other materials inside.

As soon as we’re able to clear all the national secondary roads, we will coordinate also with the local governments where they would need actually the assistance of the department for clearing out the roads inside the local roads, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. The other thing is there was an offer… Again, rather a communication from MMDA for the water purifiers? Rex…

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, ‘yung water purifier kasi wala si Benhur eh.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, ‘yung balde ho ulit?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, there’s that. And then ‘yung dinadala ng — pinapasok natin, ‘yung galing MMDA.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong backpack na water purifier.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, sir. I’ll make the call sa MMDA. Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, you coordinate with them because again, we are going to run into that situation where water supply is critical. Baka magkasakit sila — mga tao sa water supply so…

SEC. GATCHALIAN: I’ll make the call sa MMDA.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, yeah. You coordinate with them so that where we immediately need it. And then we can do again the balde.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yeah, sir. We’re sending na rin, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: How many do we send? I don’t know if it’s the same as in the time in Yolanda. But in the time of Yolanda, when we brought those bucket — the filtration system in, that was good for 100 people per day.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, it’s almost the same kasi ang ginagawa niya per evacuation center. So, they cluster let’s say three rooms, depending on how many are inside a room. Iyong the one I showed you was parang a hundred… Same, same na same, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyon. That looks the same with the one that we had in…

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, sir. Still the same. So, we’re sending it over there, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: O sige. But how many? How do we ratio it?

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, it depends on the number of evacuees that we have in the number of evacuation center.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: [inaudible]

SEC. GATCHALIAN: That’s where we get the ratio, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay.

Yeah, and it’s simple enough. How was our experience in Basco in Batanes?

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, okay naman. Wala naman untoward incident afterwards.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi pero nagamit talaga nila.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Nagamit ho nila, sir. In fact, we augmented pa some more. They asked us to bring some more.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s a good sign. That means it was — it’s really effective.

So, let’s keep that in mind. And then, of course, the MMDA has their…

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, I’ll call MMDA right after.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, please.

SEC. REMULLA: Sir, if I may.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes.

SEC. REMULLA: Sir, the evacuation areas will have no electricity and no communication. Do they have access to the Starlink system so that they can have internet at least for communication? Are we prepared for that?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Usually, the cell sites continue to operate. But it’s not happening?

SEC. REMULLA: During a typhoon, sir, a lot of them stop.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Saan ‘yung mga area na hindi natin — walang communication?

SEC. REMULLA: We will know pretty soon but I think Albay is pretty hard hit now. So, I think in terms of preparation for the next — for the coming typhoons, maybe we should advance purchase and stockpile on the Starlink, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: That will again — ganoon din, kasama ‘yan. Mayroon na tayong kasamang communication na dinadala. We put up some kind of satellite system.

Dati truck pa ‘yan, ‘yung malaking disk. Ngayon maliliit na lang.

So, ‘yun ang — but it will again depend on the accessibility. So, maybe on the first airlifts, we can include the kahit ‘yung basic lang na communication system.

Kasi pagkaalam ko, ang mga cell site mabilis bumalik. Because they have their own power — they have their own power supply and they are able to do that.

But nonetheless, we still have to put in, especially for government offices, for the local relief response para masabi sa atin what do we need. And even if when we send our people in, they have to report back to us and tell us what’s happening.

OFFICIAL: Mr. President, sir, with regard to the water filtration machine of MMDA, this is the 6,000 liter per day machine. Nag-procure na rin tayo sir ng 34 similar machines so we can also deploy.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Nandito na? Nasa atin na?

OFFICIAL: Yes, sir. So, Mr. President, we’ll just coordinate with —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very useful ‘yun. That turns out to have been a very useful piece of equipment. Kasi naga-ano…

All right, okay. What else? What else? What else have we missed? Yes?

ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL ROMEO BRAWNER JR.: Mr. President, in terms of the airlift capability, we already have alerted most of our aircraft. But yesterday we also coordinated with our US counterparts and they are ready to send in their aircraft using our EDCA sites.

And then if other countries are coming in, we will also establish our multinational coordinating centers.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, there was a mention of the international assistance. How do we… I’m sure maraming mago-offer but we have to coordinate it also.

What were you saying that we are in communication with other international agencies?

OCD OFFICIAL: Actually, sir, the Secretary of National Defense has already made some kind of guidance to Office of Civil Defense on that regard.

SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir. We have to establish first the protocols before the actual deployment of military assets, sir.

With Singapore, I already talked to Ambassador See.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh yeah, you —

SEC. TEODORO: And then, we are reaching out to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia as the closest neighbors, sir, in addition to the partner nations.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: This is where we make full use of the EDCA sites, well especially for the activities ng AFP pag-airlift.

All right —

SEC. HERBOSA: Mr. President, maybe I just like also to announce. We actually just got recently verified for three international medical teams – level one.

So, this is a 30-man team complete with WASH facilities for outpatient care. I plan to deploy it one in Bicol, the other one in northern and Central Luzon, para ready to deploy a healthcare.

Ano ‘yun, first country po tayong na-recognize ng WHO with three teams in one verification. Limang taon na po nating tinatrabaho ‘to. And then the first team, actually, already was deployed in Turkey during the earthquake a few years ago. So, it’s an international verification, gamitin ko na for our national deployment.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very good. Okay. That’s what we need. All right.

Okay, once again, what have we forgotten? Ano pa? Ano pang?

OFFICIAL: Mga na-stranded ho sa mga pier?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, si Sec. Jimmy. Yes, the — because the — how many? They are all — lahat ng ports have closed for safety reasons.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION SECRETARY JAIME BAUTISTA: Yes sir, there were 5,329 stranded passengers.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, I was looking at that. I was watching the news earlier today, ‘yung mga na stranded passengers, ang problema ng PPA, hindi nila mabigyan ng relief dahil wala namang — wala naman silang pangbigay.

SEC. BAUTISTA: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: In fact, the person that was being interviewed said baka kung gawin namin ‘yun, ma-COA kami.

So, DSWD —

SEC. GATCHALIAN: The — actually —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: DSWD should…

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Operate. Sir, we do —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kasi wala naman sa brief ng PPA na magbigay ng relief goods.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, actually —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Magpapalugaw na lang daw sila.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, sa standard operating procedure, even in Bicol port yesterday in Matnog, we were there. We do hot meals. Sir, hindi ‘yung family food packs kasi hindi nila makakain ‘yun eh dahil wala namang cooking facility. We do warm meals on-site.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. Good, good. Because marami-rami ‘yung stranded eh.

SEC. BAUTISTA: There were 5,329 stranded passengers, sir, in different ports plus 994 vehicles that should take the RoRo, so they cannot sail because of this typhoon.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. But the ports are shut down because of the weather?

OFFICIAL: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, we have no forecast when they we can operate again. Non-operational lahat doon sa area.

OFFICIAL: It depends on the… From the Coast Guard…

SEC. BAUTISTA: Coast Guard will give the clearance if they can sail already.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, Admiral?

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD COMMANDANT ADMIRAL RONNIE GIL GAVAN: Good morning, Mr. President. As soon as the area is cleared from the weather signal, we will lift the suspension of sea travel. But in the meantime, along the path, no sail po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, it’s better safe than sorry.

ADMIRAL GAVAN: But nonetheless, Mr. President, there are some ports in Bicol which can be accessed just in case po there’s a need for us to bring in supplies. The port of Pasacao can be accessed by smaller ships.

And we are actually preparing three ships now to assist OCD or DSWD in case they need our help.

SEC. REMULLA: Sir, if I may? I just got a call from Congressman L-Ray. Out of 600 barangays in Naga, 300 are fully submerged.

Unpassable by cars and they will — they are in urgent need of rubber boats and 6×6 trucks to evacuate people. And it’s just beginning so —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, for them in CamSur medyo pa-ano na —

SEC. REMULLA: Paalis na?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Medyo patapos na. So, for the rest of the – of Luzon, it’s not yet even quite begun yet.

SEC. REMULLA: That’s right So, sila ‘yung nauna. They are in desperate need, hindi daw kaya ng local government.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s really the flooding that we are going to have to deal with. So, anong gagawin natin?

SEC. REMULLA: Sir, ‘yung DND siguro ang mauuna, sir.

SEC. TEODORO: Sir, as we speak, we are pushing forward additional rubber boats to proceed to the SOLCOM area and I already gave instruction, sir, that we have to source some from Mindanao and the Visayas.

J3 is working on it to marshal already, sir, and if possible we can even air drop them.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, for the same area, their food packs are being withdrawn already. I was also talking to Congressman L-Ray yesterday. The first 50,000, he’s already taking now. Yes, and I told him to keep on withdrawing as he needs.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, so ganoon na nga ‘yung mga assets because waterborne assets ang kailangan natin, ‘yung maliliit.

SEC. REMULLA: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, I think for now, we pretty much covered everything that we can do. We are — except for the Bicol Region, except for Region V, we are still in a preparation stage.

Region V, mag-umpisa na talaga ng ano kasi basta pwede nang pasukin, the public works is going to work to open all the thoroughfares. Those areas that are isolated kagaya nung mga 300 barangays —

SEC. REMULLA: 300 barangays out of 600, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kalahati nung probinsya.

SEC. REMULLA: Yes, sir, are fully submerged.

PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE ACTING SECRETARY CESAR CHAVEZ: Sir, it’s because ang Camarines, sir, the Bicol river basin.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, it’s river basin talaga eh.

SEC. CHAVEZ: ‘Yun po ‘yung Albay and Camarines Norte, papunta sa Albay.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Exactly. Correct, correct.

SEC. CHAVEZ: Mr. President, nandito ho ‘yung —

PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s why laging naiipon diyan eh.

SEC. CHAVEZ: Opo. Mr. President, nandito po ‘yung General Manager ng Philippine Ports Authority. Tingnan natin kung nagugutom ‘yung mga stranded doon, Mr. Jay Santiago.

PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY GENERAL MANAGER JAY SANTIAGO: Good morning po, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, good morning.

GENERAL MANAGER SANTIAGO: Well, tama po ‘yung sinabi po ni Sec. Bautista po kanina. As of 6 am po kanina, nasa 5,329 passengers po ‘yung stranded natin and 994 vehicles.

So, what we have been doing po every time naman po na mayroon po tayong ganitong situation, lahat po nung terminals natin sa stranded, we provide them hot meals po ‘no pero ano lang po, Mr. President, normally lugaw po na mainit kasi wala naman po sa budget po natin ‘yan.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s exactly what I’m saying.

GENERAL MANAGER SANTIAGO: Opo. But what we do po, is we do it po out of pocket po nung mga empleyado din po natin.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ayun na nga. We should have a more… Hindi pwedeng ganoon ka lang mga ad hoc… And thank you very much, and I’m sure it is a big help to those who are ano. But the government should have a more systematic way of looking after them.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, if I may. Right now, we augment the hot meals pero we’re about to come up with our DOST ready-to-eat box. It’s a day-box na lahat na siya, pre — kakainin mo na lang.

There are protein bars and all those stuff, galing sa DOST. So we’re about to launch it next month. So ‘yun iyong mas systematic way of doing it.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wala pa tayo munang magagawa. But that’s something that— iyan ang talagang fell through the cracks na hindi natin napaghandaan. But so I’m glad we – it came out in the news, ikaw ba ‘yung in-interview?

GENERAL MANAGER SANTIAGO: Yes po, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, sabi ko na nga ba.

GENERAL MANAGER SANTIAGO: In fact po, if I may, maga-ano po sana kami magre-request po kami kila Secretary Rex na once those food items are ready, baka po pwedeng magpre-position po sa mga terminals po natin na malalaki para ano po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ganoon din, we will just do the same thing with the specific ano, ‘yung mga stranded na pasahero ‘pag sinara iyong mga pwerto.

SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, Mr. President, when we procure that, patapos na ho, it’s coming. The ready-to- eat boxes we’ll pre-position sa mga pier po.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. So, sino pa? What else? Yes please, go ahead.

OCD OFFICIAL: Sir, iyong tungkol po doon sa power interruption. Actually, napakaimportante po na ‘yung tungkol diyan sa interruption to make it short as much as possible because most of the water supplies in the provinces are also relying on the power.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No. No. It’s a perfectly reasonable demand to bring back the power as quickly as possible. Ang daming hindi magawa hangga’t may power.

OCD OFFICIAL: And at the same time, sir, some of the cold chain in the hospitals are also reliant on power supply.

So, it’s important that these are some of the humanitarian aspects that we have to look into. Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No doubt. No doubt. It’s just that there is that — that is that long term effect which we have to pay attention to as well.

SEC. LOTILLA: Mr. President, as you’ve pointed out, we have to avoid the possible electrocution of people. That’s why we have to check the lines first. NEA coordinates that with the electric coops before we can restore.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: It’s really – we all want to bring the power back as quickly as possible. Pero bawat metro ng linya kailangan inspeksyonin eh, na walang putol, walang nag-short, kundi ‘pag in-on iyan puputok lang lahat iyan. Magkasunog pa, may masaktan pa.

SEC. TEODORO: Mr. President, with respect to the power, I remember, we will just have to marshal it again in the onset of El Niño, we made sure all the hospitals had generating equipment and other water facilities. So, we’ll just make sure that those are up to speed.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, as long as we have been able to provide the equipment, kaya naman eh. Well, between the generator and the water purification machines. Yeah.

SEC. LOTILLA: Mr. President, DOH, for those which cities running and supporting, they have provided for gensets for all of them. So, that’s at least for 4 to 8 hours, they are able to provide for emergency power. So, we can draw on that.

SEC. HERBOSA: ‘Yun ang limit, Mr. President. Usually we cannot use the genset for long periods of time. They’re only for like that temporary power interruption, and then kailangan bumalik ‘yung power din. Kapag continuous nasisira ‘yung genset.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, hindi kaya. It’s not designed for that.

SEC. HERBOSA: Hindi kaya. It’s not designed for continuous power supply.

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo. No, no. There’s no doubt, we have to bring the power back as quickly as we can, safely.

Yeah. So, we’ll do that. That’s exactly what we will do. That’s what we always do.

Well, you know, our procedures are seem to be in place. There are little adjustments that we have to make for the specific situation.

But right now, we will just have to wait for the storm to pass and see what the effects will be.

Again, mukhang maliwanag na it’s really the flooding that we will going to have to worry about. Not so much the infrastructure damage from winds. It’s really going to be infrastructure damage and threat to life of the flooding that’s going to happen.

So the evacuation, ituloy-tuloy na natin iyong ano, ‘yung northern Luzon, kung saan iyong talagang tatamaan, mag-evacuate naman.

Sanay naman kami diyan. So iyong – hindi, the point being… Since the storms pass in our area all the time, people are not so hard to convince na mag-evacuate muna. Basta’t mayroon silang warning, gagawin naman ng mga local government executives.

All right. I think we’ve covered as many things as we possibly can without seeing the final effects of the storm.

So, okay let’s go, let’s prepare. Everybody knows what they need to do.

Maraming salamat. Thank you.

— END —