SURIGAO DEL SUR GOVERNOR ALEXANDER PIMENTEL:

Maraming salamat po. Sa mahal na Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte at kay Senator Bong Go at kay Secretary Lorenzana at sa lahat ng secretaries na nandito po.

Kami po ay nagagalak at until now po hindi ko alam kung ano ang feeling ko at nabigla po ako. Kaming lahat mga mayors sa biglaang pagpunta ninyo rito. Ang akala ko si Senator Bong Go lang kasi siya ang laging pumupunta sa amin. Siya ang laging tumutulong sa amin. Hindi ko akalain na nandito lahat ang buong Gabinete para umattend dito sa pagtingin ng kalagayan ng Surigao del Sur.

This is the first time in the history of Surigao del Sur or maybe in the Philippines na kayo po mahal na Presidente talaga immediately after the typhoon dumating kayo dito. [applause] Maraming maraming salamat po.

Talagang nabigla po kami. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko ma-ano ‘yong feeling ng happiness ng buong katawohan sa Surigao del Sur po. Welcome to Surigao del Sur po, mahal na Presidente. [applause]

OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATOR UNDERSECRETARY RICARDO JALAD: Good afternoon to our President and Cabinet secretaries and other national government officials, local officials of Surigao del Sur led by Governor Alexander Pimentel.

This presentation is about the updates on the low pressure formerly Severe Tropical Storm “Auring” with international name “Dujuan”. And this — it will follow this outline: situation overview, monitored effects and preparedness response actions.

First, on the situation overview. Shown on the screen is the track of Auring from the time it was detected as a low pressure area last Wednesday, February 17, outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, west of Mindanao. Its intensification for up to tropical depression, tropical storm and severe tropical storm while approaches our landmass, and its weakening back to the low pressure area when it made landfall at Batag Island in Northern Samar yesterday at 11 o’clock in the morning.

As of 8 o’clock this morning, that LPA dissipated somewhere near Infanta, Quezon. The highest wind signal issued was last Sunday at signal number 2 with wind speed of about 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Now, on the monitored effects shown are pictures of flooding in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; flooding in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur; and aerial view of the flooding in Tandag City.

And the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council monitored a total of 16 incidents mostly flooding in five regions and most of these were in CARAGA Region. Auring affected a total of 29,000 families or 112,734 individuals. We had one casualty, a six-year-old child, due to drowning in Claver, Surigao del [Norte]; four missing; and two injured. The missing, three of these are fishermen who ventured out to the sea in Bislig.

And we also monitored 240 houses damaged, 60 of these were totally damaged and 180 partially damaged. Twelve road sections and one bridge were affected in five regions but seven of these road sections are already passable. Forty two domestic flights were cancelled and sea trips were likewise cancelled resulting to the stranded of 3,120 passengers.

Now, on preparedness measures, we conducted last February 17 immediately after PAGASA alerted Operation Center of the LPA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and we also took advantage of the NDRRMC full council meeting last 19 February to inform the council of our preparedness and updates on Auring. And the regional and local NDRRM councils also initiated their respective pre-disaster risk assessment updates.

We issued memorandum to NDRRMC member agencies, RDRRMCs, and local government units for their preparedness against Tropical Depression Auring and various Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils of areas likely to be affected as well as DILG issued directives for preemptive evacuation and other preparedness measures for LGUs in accordance with operation [unclear].

And we also issued a memorandum to the members of the response cluster to be on standby for possible activation and operations. And given our risk assessment meetings that CARAGA will be heavily affected by Auring, DSWD prepositioned or augmented their relief goods here in CARAGA with goods from nearby field stations in Mindanao and the Visayas.

We activated our Emergency Operations Centers at the national level and regional level. We issued 16 emergency alert and warning messages to all cellphone subscribers through the telcos Globe and Smart. Nine of these were red rainfall warning while seven are orange rainfall warning.

And [next slide] [unclear] or preparedness is the conduct of preemptive evacuations. And the local government units were able to preemptively evacuate 18, 996 families or 69,682 individuals from six regions likely to be affected by Auring and most of these were carried out in CARAGA, as shown, CARAGA Region evacuated 13,744 families or 52,000 individuals.

DSWD already started giving out relief goods and immediately DPWH conducted clearing operations of affected road sections and bridges.

Our uniformed services, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire assisted our local government units in the conduct of preemptive evacuations and rescue operations as well.

And for our next steps, one is the need to sustain relief operations in areas heavily affected by Auring with the local government units in the lead and supported by national government agencies concerned with augmentation of resources. And we are asking the local chief executives to coordinate these efforts with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and agencies that are member of this NDRRMC. Also we will be assessing the extent of damages, losses and needs as well as interventions needed.

That’s all for now, Mr. President, for the update on Auring. Thank you.

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA: Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. [applause]

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Maayong — magtindog mo, magtindog pud ko. (Good — when you stand, I stand, too). [laughter and applause]

You know, as always, the early warnings sa anytime of — typically says that it’s a big one and it’s a severe one. So kaming mga trabahante sa Manila, nagahuwat lang pud og kanus-a mi makalupad o makaanhi either by boat or by whatever na makit-an nako ang sitwasyon (We were just waiting when we could visit here either by boat or by whatever so that I can see the situation)

It turned out that it is not so bad at all. Naay gamay mga danyos nakit-an nako sa taas (I saw a few damages during the aerial inspection) but I think over time nature would take its course and we can repair it.

Ang importante diri is ang pagkaon sa katong naigo sa bagyo (What’s important here is the food for those affected by the storm). So I would like to ask General Jalad and secretary — si General Bautista, I would like to ask them how — how’s your stock? How’s your inventory here? Mayroon ba itong naka…? Were there some forward — ?

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY ROLANDO JOSELITO BAUTISTA: Mr. President, with your permission, just to give you an overview of the initial interventions of the DSWD. Apparently, initially we provided 3,500 family food packs during the typhoon in the — for the beneficiaries of Marihatag del Sur and Tandag, Surigao del Sur.

The — some of the family food packs were strategically prepositioned in a way that any municipality or city that necessitates immediate assistance, then we tapped the nearby warehouse, Mr. President.

Other than that, there were 15,000 family food packs that were prepositioned here where 8,000 were already in the field office of CARAGA and 7,000 family food packs will be arriving. They are expected to be here, 8,000, as mentioned, nandito na po, Mr. President. Iyong 7,000 expected to arrive here in field office CARAGA by tomorrow. They were transported in by ship, by land and by air.

As a whole, Mr. President, there are 22.09 million allocated for standby and — standby fund and stockpiles. When we talk of stockpiles, they are the food and non-food items. They include hygiene kits, family kits and, among others.

[Unclear] is on standby funds of the field office of CARAGA and we have a QRF funds in the central office worth 459.8 million ready to augment in case there will be a shortage of funds of QRF here in field office CARAGA.

In addition, Mr. President, 3,658 families will be provided with 3,000 per family for cash assistance with a total worth of 10, 974  — ah 10.9 million initially intended for the victims of Tandag, Surigao del Sur and for the 673 totally and partially damaged houses initially assessed. For those totally damaged, they will be provided with 30,000 each. For the partially damaged, they will be provided with 15,000 each.

So as a whole, Mr. President, we have enough funds and family food packs to support the victims of typhoon, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Let me — let me just ask you this question. How long would that supply last — money and the foodstuffs?

SEC. BAUTISTA: With the situation, Mr. President, we estimate that it will last for a week, Mr. President. Depende, Mr. President, on how the situation develops. The longer it takes, then the more family food packs and cash assistance will be provided. Pero with this situation, apparently, we can last for one week.

Pero ang nangyayari naman diyan, Mr. President, once the field office deems it necessary to augment funds, immediately nagbababa po kami, Mr. President.

Among others, ‘yong mga lateral field offices na coming from field office X, field office XI in Mindanao, Visayas, nakatutok na po ‘yan, Mr. President, para whatever transport is available, pinu-push forward, sir, Mr. President, ‘yong kailangan nung field office sa victim ng any typhoon or calamity.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I am —  I’d like to… We were having a teleconferencing last night. Pinutol ko kasi anyway sabi ko pupunta ako doon. Gusto ko lang malaman na were there enough food and water for the people during the typhoon?

[Magtiis ka na lang ng isa. Bibilhan kita ng bago ‘pag birthday mo.] [laughter]

USEC. JALAD: Yes, sir. Yes sir, Mr. President, we have enough food supplies. And in this kind of incidents where likely overwhelms the capacities of the local government units, the Office of Civil Defense mobilizes the various regional government agencies for the conduct of damage assessment to augment the LGUs.

And we also have arrangement — the Office of Civil Defense has arrangement with the National Food Authority. In fact, we have advance payment with the NFA in case DSWD runs out of stocks, we usually augment them with rice.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Salamat po. Now let me go to my acknowledgments. Inuna ko lang ‘yong kayong dalawa.

I am in the presence of Governor Alexander Pimentel of Surigao del Sur. [applause] Sir, I am very happy that I’m here.

You know, many, many years ago when I was a young man, mahilig ako maglipad dito sa Tandag pati sa… When I was flying. I was building my flying hours. Itong Tandag paborito ko itong pupuntahan dito. The problem with this area is nagsasara ‘yong clouds. You have to fly early, go home early because nagsasara. When I was about 16 years old then, a very long time ago.

So Mayor Roxanne Pimentel of Tandag City; [applause] Mayor Vicente Pimentel III of Carrascal; [applause] Mayor Justin Marc Pelenio, Marihatag; [applause] Mayor Josie Bonifacio of Cortes, [applause] ma’am, I am pleased to meet you; Mayor Lilian Yu-Lozada, Cagwait; [applause] Puro babae man. [laughter] Mayor Jane Valeroso of Carmen; [applause] and Mayor Novelita Sarmen of Lianga; [applause] Mayor Mary Grace Kimura of Madrid. [applause]

I am glad to meet you today. Inuna ko lang sila ‘yong ano — the pressing problem really is itong pagkain. What I have really experienced all these years being mayor of Davao City for almost 23 years, ah so hindi tayong mga dumaan sa local, hindi tayo — medyo ano sanay tayo. Hindi tayo dehado and basta ganoon pagkain, shelter or ma-plastic man o ano, and tubig. Iyan importante talaga ‘yang tubig.

You know I’d like to tell you a story tutal maganda naman ang panahon kung hindi kami gabihin.

Art, baka magawa mo itong — ma-rated na ba for night landing? Nakita mo ba ito? Pasyalan mo nga.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY ARTHUR TUGADE: Wala pa hong night landing, Mayor-President. Ang ginagawa ho ngayon ie-extend namin ‘yong runway, that’s 1.4 kilometers ngayon.

Plano po namin matapos ‘yong extension hanggang end of the year into 1.6. In due time, ‘yong night rated will come. Ang importante lang ho sa night rated ay ‘yong demographics ho ng pasahero.

In fact, ‘yong mga airlines ngayon hindi pa masyadong kumbinsidong lumipad dito because of what they call the “unprofitable routes.”

But it is a chicken and the egg. Kailangan mo bang i-improve ‘yan para dumating ‘yong pasahero or kailangan bang may pasahero muna bago mo i-improve ‘yan? Ang feeling ko ho ‘yong style ng — if I may say, Mayor-President — ‘yong China, build the improvements and let the people come.

Kaya nga ho ngayon ho papahabain ho namin ‘yung runway from 1.4 to 1.6 maintaining at the same time the 30 meters width, length. Ito ho mapapadagdag ‘yong mga eroplanong lilipad.

Pero tama ho kayo ang importante ‘yung mapa-night rated pagkat na-experience po namin dito ho sa terminal, Mr. President, na noong in-increase ho natin ‘yong night-rated capacity ng mga airports, lumuwag din ho ‘yong congestion sa NAIA.

Tapos nagkaroon ho ng talagang maraming biyahe kasi ho noon basta tumilaok ‘yong manok, doon pa lang lilipad ‘yong eroplano. ‘Pag pumunta na ‘yong sunset, tigil na ‘yong operation.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: How do you rate this — this run here? A feeder route?

SEC. TUGADE: Ah ito ho ang importante po kasi diyan sa night rated ‘yong number of trips, number of passengers. Ang feeling ko ho diyan, ‘pag ni-night rate mo naman ‘yan, darating ‘yong passengers, darating ‘yong trips and that is the position I am holding right now, Mr. President. Kaya nga po ‘yong runway na 1.4 ma-increase namin ho hopefully by the end of this year into 1.6.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Kung matapos ‘yong ano, Art, matapos ‘yong extension, as you say, kung lagyan mo na ng ilaw?

SEC. TUGADE: Yes, yes, we’ll do that. Ang importante rin ho kasi tinitingnan din ho namin para maengganyo ‘yong trapik dito sa lugar na ‘to, ‘yong tinatawag ho naming approach na “hub-and-spoke”. Ibig sabihin ‘yong biyahe dito sa Visayas and Mindanao magkakaroon ng hubbing operation. And one of the areas they’ve looked into in this area is precisely Tandag [President Duterte: That’s good.] para maengganyo ho ‘yong mga biyahe ng mga airlines.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay, thank you. That’s for the information of the people. Nandito si energy — si Cusi — Secretary Cusi. If you have anything to ask him, he’s ready that’s why he’s here. Ang tanungin ko lang, sir, sa iyo is — are the lines of ano sa electric restored — restored na lahat?

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SECRETARY ALFONSO CUSI: Magandang hapon po, Mayor-Mr. President. Magandang hapon po sa lahat.

Wala naman pong na-damage sa infrastructure sa energy. Ang naging problema lang po ay ‘yong baha. And majority of all the municipalities, except for one, are already restored. Itong [unclear] na lang po ang for restoration which to be completed today, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Today?

SEC. CUSI: Today po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Good. I am happy. So there you are. Iyong mga mayors, governor, if you have something to — if there’s anything that you want to improve or to repair or rehabilitate, nandito man si Wendel, the Budget, puwedeng maitanong natin sa kanya if we have a contingency plan for that. Yes?

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT SECRETARY SILVESTRE BELLO III: Mr. President, nag-usap kami ni Governor — I had a short conversation with Governor and I offered him 30 fiberglass galvanized bancas for every municipality because I was informed by the Governor, Mr. President, that out of 19 municipalities, 18 are coastal towns, Mr. President. So we are giving them 30 motorized fiberglass bancas, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yeah, you gave the same to Cagayan. [applause] Which would maybe lead me to suspect that you are after all running all along? [laughter]

SEC. BELLO: Hindi. Kasi kailangan nila, Mr. President. And while waiting for the banca, Mr. President, we will give each mayor an accommodation of 250 workers who will be given an emergency employment of 10 days so that they can have them paid the minimum wage in the region, Mr. President. Bawat municipality mabigyan ng 250 emergency employees. [applause] Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Good. Salamat. Alam mo wala namang — wala sa mga military ang gustong tumakbo. So ito sila pinunta ko dito because their — their role in government is precisely during these times na ano ‘yong there’s a destruction. But sa awa ng Diyos wala naman.

Pinupuntahan ko lang kayo dito para kay kung magtanong ako — kung magtanong kayo kung nasaan ako, at least nandito ako sa inyo. Iyon and the… If you have been to… Yes?

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY SECRETARY RAMON LOPEZ: Sir, kung puwede lang po akong mag-report?

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Here, all right.

SEC. LOPEZ: Mr. President, dagdagan ko lang ho ‘yong report for the DTI — Department of Trade — mayroon ho tayong mga 12,000 na registered na maliliit na negosyo, micro SME, 4,700 doon natulungan na before the bagyo.

Iyong mga binibigyan ng puhunan, mga gamit sa negosyo, 4,700. At isa — ‘yong kasama rin po dito ‘yong mga tinulungan noong sa mga dating sakuna, nasunugan. Sa tulong ni Senator Bong Go nagbigay ho ng pondo para makaabot tayo ‘yong mga tulong sa mga nabiktima noong mga previous disaster at saka mga sunog.

So mayroon na rin ho tayong natulungan kasama na doon sa 4,700. Itong bagyo na ito may 1,000 ho na naapektuhan na maliliit na negosyo. So doon naman ho may assessment tayo para babalikan natin ‘yan after one week kung anong tulong ang kailangan. Usually ho pautang o kaya ‘yong outright livelihood support fund. Puhunan ho ito. Iyong mga gamit na puwede nang paninda. So ‘yon ibibigay ho natin.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: I was mentioning the name of General — si Sid Lapeña. Apparently, he didn’t make it here — TESDA.

SEC. LOPEZ: For training, TESDA.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: TESDA is very important.

SEC. LOPEZ: Kasama rin ho siya sa mga risk scaling.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: How fast can you give those — ?

SEC. LOPEZ: Kami ho, one week after ho assessment. Ina-assess ho sila. Iyong damage ho kasi, awa ng Diyos, hindi po sila ‘yong talagang natanggal ‘yong negosyo. Nagbaha lang ng mga isa, dalawang araw tapos nawala na ho ‘yong baha. May mga na-damage ho na mga gamit, imbentaryo. Pero ho ‘pag binalikan ho ‘yon, puwede na ho silang suplayan ulit nung mga pang-imbentaryo nila.

Tapos ‘yong isa hong binabantayan natin ‘yong supply ng — at presyo nung mga basic products, ‘yong mga de lata, mga grocery products. So since passable ho ‘yong road ayos po ang supply at presyo dito ho sa Tandag, sa Surigao Sur, ‘yong mga naapektuhan.

So ‘yon ho ang report sa atin. Thank you po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ito ‘yong isa sa mga achievers sa — well, the military also. Halos pareho ng ano eh. In the Cabinet room, kaming mga sibilyan nandiyan tapos kaharap namin silang puro military. Ex-military lahat. Karamihan sa kanila. [Ilan kayo, Del?] Nag-abot kayo ng…? Twelve. Twelve Cabinet members are all military. Yes?

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY WILLIAM DAR: Mahal na Pangulo, ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka ay magbibigay po tayo ngayon ng 230 million pesos worth of agricultural interventions for the Province of Surigao del Sur. [applause]

So mayroon tayong certificate of award mamaya, Mr. President, na — pakibigay na lang kay Governor Pimentel mamaya — 230 million po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Is that the document?

SEC. DAR: Opo. Salamat po.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: At least. So para maibigay. Kung kulang pa ang pera mo, nandiyan si Wendel o sige tawag-tawag. Wendel, magkanong — ? May ma… How much can you set aside for this particular?

DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SECRETARY WENDEL AVISADO: Ah, Mr. President —

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Hindi lang dito kasi pati doon sa kabila.

SEC. AVISADO: Mr. President, klaro man sa atong kasamtangan nga budget para karon nga tuig nga ang lain-laing departments dunay ginatawag nga kanang Quick Response Fund po nila. So kanang ilang ginagamit karon mao na nang partly sa ilang Quick Response Fund.

(TRANSLATION: Mr. President, it is clear from this year’s budget that various departments have their own Quick Response Fund. The money they are spending now is partly from their Quick Response Fund.)

Ang Department of Agriculture, naa na siyay 1 billion; ang DILG-Bureau of Fire naay 50 million; ang DILG-PNP naay 50 million; ang Department of National Defense – Office of Civil Defense naay 500 million; ang DPWH naay 1 billion; ang DSWD naay 1.250 billion. So dali ra gyud kaayo ta makatubag dayon sa panginahanglanon.

(TRANSLATION: The Department of Agriculture has 1 billion; the DILG-Bureau of Fire has 50 million; the DILG-PNP has 50 million; the Department of National Defense – Office of Civil Defense has 500 million; the DPWH has 1 billion; the DSWD has 1.250 billion. So we can give immediate assistance.)

Ug bisan pa sa uban nga departments, naa silay kasamtangang programa nga makahatag pud dayon sila og ayuda – DTI, DOLE, bisan pa sa DOTr ug sa DOE. Sato pa, sa kinatibuk-an, it’s really the whole-of-government approach na gina-adopt nato para dali ra pud makatubag sa panginahanglanon.

(TRANSLATION: In other departments, they have a program that would enable them to provide immediate assistance such as the DTI, DOLE, and even DOTr and DOE. As a whole, it’s really the whole-of-government approach that we are adopting so that we can respond immediately to situations.)

Ug bisan pa niana, og naa pa gyuy additional na damages, although wa kaayo gyud namo makita diri kumpara sa mga nahimo nga kadaot sa Bagyong Quinta, Rolly, ug Ulysses, massive gyud to.

(TRANSLATION: Despite that, even if there will be additional damages, the situation here is not comparable to the extent of the damage caused by Typhoons Quinto, Rolly and Ulysses. The damages then were massive.)

Busa nga based on the report of the Office of Civil Defense ug DSWD, nakahatag pa si Presidente direkta sa mga local government units og additional funds para ma-augment ang ilang calamity funds.

(TRANSLATION: Based on the report of the Office of Civil Defense and DSWD, the President was able to give additional funds directly to the local government units to augment their calamity funds.)

Pagka karon, nagsugod pa lang ta sa tuig, naa pay pondo ang mga lokal kay sugod pa man lang ta. Naa man silay five percent sa total budget nila for calamity fund.

(TRANSLATION: As of now, given that we just started the year, the local government units still have ample funds because the year has just started. Five percent of their total budget is allotted to the calamity fund.)

So mag-agad lang pud ko sa report sa OCD na i-endorse pud ni Secretary Lorenzana kay siya may chair sa NDRRMC. Dayon maaprubahan nimo, i-release pud dayon nako direkta sa mga LGUs og kinahanglan na gyud.

(TRANSLATION: So I’m just going to wait for the report of the OCD that will be endorsed by Secretary Lorenzana because he is the NDRRMC chair. And once you approve it, I will release the funds directly to the LGUs if it’s urgently needed.)

So makalaom lang ang probinsiya sa Surigao del Sur — partikular kang Governor Ayec — ug sa tanang mayores, nga naa gyud ang gobyerno nagatutok gyud bisag unsay mahitabo kay ang instruction gyud ni Presidente unahon gyud ang panginahanglan sa katawohan.

(TRANSLATION: So you can be optimistic that the Province of Surigao del Sur — particularly of Governor Ayec — and all of the mayors, that the government is working on the situation regardless of its severity because the President’s instruction is to prioritize the needs of the people.)

Salamat, mayor. [applause]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah Del, when can you be back here? All of you. All departments, I’m referring to all. If you cannot come back here, at least send a representative who can work or who will work.

SEC. AVISADO: Yes, sir.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Kasi Governor, I am a very impatient man, not because by design but kakaunti na lang kasi ang panahon na pagka-presidente ko. Gusto ko ‘yong dapat gawin, gawin na kaagad para ano. Kaya ngayon, even in the matter of permits, maski anong klaseng permit pa, mining, hindi ko pinapatagal.

I tell them just give them 30 days. And there’s a very simplified clearances now sa local government. You must remember that mayor ako. And before I became

the mayor, the usual, sa sabungan pabalik-balikin. Now, maski anong klaseng opisina, sabi ko it’s about three days.

Kasi marami — marami akong nakikita kasi my father was a governor. It was one big Davao. So ‘yong mga mayor noon na ano, na mga barangay captain naging governors na rin nakikita ko dito. Ang tagal ‘yan ang reklamo nila, naubos ang panahon, considering the traffic also ‘yan ang naka-ano.

Kaya ang sabi ko karamihan diyan one-stop shop na. Nandiyan ang overseas, nandiyan ‘yong NBI, nandiyan ‘yong BIR, whatever clearances you would need. There is a table that will take care of your need in one building.

Dito naman sa daan, if you happen to be in Manila lately, talagang ang Skyway ni Villar, talagang maganda na. And the airports, most of the airports, sir, kaya pahabol natin ‘yong inyo. Palagyan na natin ng ilaw muna.

SEC. TUGADE: Yes, sir. We will — we will program that, Mayor-President. And we will communicate accordingly with Governor Pimentel to advise them on schedules and program that will be undertaken to improve the airport condition in Tandag.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Tutal kung hindi man nila magamit sa eroplano —

SEC. TUGADE: Ang isa pong gusto kong tingnan, Mayor-President, binaha ho eh ‘yong airport. Normally po, Mr. President, ang airport dapat hindi binabaha. For the first time itong runway nabaha daw ho, nabaha itong kuwan. Gusto kong malaman kung ano ho ‘yong kadahilanan doon.

Alam ko rin po na ‘yong baha nag-recede after almost one — one hour. Normally po, Mayor-President, basta runway dapat hindi binabaha, hindi nagkakaroon ng tubig. Pero itong nangyari dito kay Auring, binaha ho ‘yong runway.

Kaya pinapa-check ko ho sa ating mga technical people ano ‘yong nangyari. Para kung sinasa — sakaling kailangan ho ‘yong pangmatagalang solusyon, hindi ho tayo mag-a-approach ng papatse-patse.

Sabi nila ‘yong ulan daw ho sampung oras yatang umulan. Nagkaroon ng gathering of water, pooling of water sa runway. Pero gusto ko hong malaman kung bakit. Iyon ho ‘yong isang tiningnan namin kaninang umaga.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay, so medyo we have said our piece here. Ano ho kayo, Governor? Ano ho ang reklamo ninyo or what needs to be done?

SURIGAO DEL SUR GOV. PIMENTEL: Maraming salamat po, mahal na Presidente. Ang immediate needs ko po lalong-lalo na ngayon hindi pa kami tapos mag-rehabilitate ng mga barangay roads ‘yong na-damage niyang Typhoon Vicky.

At ngayon, hindi pa nga kami tapos lahat ng mga barangays almost 200 barangays, iyong iba impassable pa. So kulang na kulang ‘yong equipment para mag-repair ng mga barangay — mga barangay roads. Ang highway, okay naman ‘yong sa highway po. Passable na ang mga highways.

Pero ‘yong mga… Kasi alam niyo po, puro bundok. Iyong karamihan ng barangays natin nasa bundok, lalo na ‘yong sa mga IPs, impassable ‘yong mga sitio. Iyong equipment ko po kulang. Kasi 19 — 17 municipalities, two cities, karamihan diyan walang equipment ‘yong mga maliliit na munisipyo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Dinala na sa ibang lugar? I mean the equipment that were originally being utilized here, nandiyan pa?

SURIGAO DEL SUR GOV. PIMENTEL: Ah, ‘yong sa province po, pinapahiram ko sa mga mayors para i-repair ‘yong mga barangay road pero kulang po ‘yong team ko.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: How many pieces do you have for example tractor grader? Ilan lahat ang ano mo?

SURIGAO DEL SUR GOV. PIMENTEL: Mayroon po kaming limang team. Pero ‘pag dumating po sa isang municipality, inaabot ng ilang buwan kasi lahat nire-repair namin. Tapos dumating na naman ‘yong bagyo. Hindi talaga namin masabay. So baka puwedeng makahiram ng equipment sa DPWH at saka konting fuel para ma —

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: DPWH? Sige ho. Sandali ha tanungin ko muna si Wendel. May kwarta (pera) ka, Del? Wala? Sabihin mo ‘pag wala kang pera bigyan kita. May pera ka?

SEC. AVISADO: Mayroon naman.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Madagdagan lang sana itong mga equipment nila for ano lang. Well, DPWH, but kung may bilhin kami na ‘yong equipment, huwag ninyong dalhin doon sa pang probinsiya. Kung may ibigay kami, dito lang ninyo gamitin para hindi bugbog at saka malawak na ang trabaho ‘pag dalhin mo pa doon sa ano.

Let it stay here and utilize the machines or equipment solely dito para mag — madagdagan siguro ng… Well, ikaw sir. You are the director. What can you say? You lend equipment or you need equipment?

DPWH OFFICIAL: Maraming salamat po, mahal na Pangulo. Tutulong po ang DPWH. Nandito po ‘yung regional director ng Region XIII. Tutulong po kami at patuloy po kaming makikipag-cooperate kay Governor at dati na po kaming tumulong sa mga barangay roads.

Hindi na po muna namin ide-demobilize para patuloy po ang tulong namin sa local governments po. Kukunin na lang po namin ‘yong mga listahan kay Governor po, mahal na Pangulo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: So hindi naman masyadong mahirap talaga ang gobyerno. Sabi lang ng iba. It’s just a matter of communication. At saka kung may pera, I can buy one, two. Hindi naman masyadong mahal ‘yan. It would not make us poor. I can buy one, two, three equipment. Pero dito lang sa…

Pagka ‘yong parang grant, national, dito lang ninyo gamitin. Huwag ninyong i-alis because the — iyong mga roads sa barangay are eternally, endless repair ‘yan. Kasi i-pave mo ‘yan, i-grader mo ‘yan, parang lipstick lang ‘yan. Pagdating ng ulan, ganoon rin ang…

That’s the pain of ano dito sa mga… Kaya ‘yong tama ‘yong sinabi nila. I cannot talk with my… Iyong dito gamitin lang para ano… And if we promise also for their provinces, doon lang sa kanila para hindi mapalyar ang trabaho. Nothing is delayed here. Okay siguro ‘yan. But you have the equipment now?

DPWH OFFICIAL: Mayroon po tayong equipment po. Ika-cluster po namin ‘yong buong equipment ng Region XIII, sir. Mayroon ho kaming 159.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay. Kindly address the problem of…

DPWH OFFICIAL: Gagawin po namin, mahal na Pangulo.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: So, I would like… Give me a report of what you have done. Just a memo para I can keep track of… Para hindi makalimutan ‘yan. You throw it to the memory ulit na sabihin na naman na puro daldal lang. Ganoon lang naman ang tao.

Actually, hindi tayo nagkulang, pera; expertise, nandiyan kayo. Ang problema natin dito is — I’m not referring to you — but iyong indolence. Indolence ng Pilipino na magtrabaho diyan sa ano ng kalahating araw tapos mag…

And besides, I need the barangay roads to improve the insurgency problem sa lahat. Dito lalo na sa Mindanao. The pinakamalakas is sa CARAGA, sa Eastern Visayas. Ang CARAGA ang pinakasakit sa ulo.

So let me address to… Punta na naman ako sa military. Alam mo, iyang mga buang na ‘yang NPA na ‘yan, they are collecting taxes everywhere. Everywhere and anywhere sa Davao kaya may pera. May pera talaga ‘yan. Iyong kaibigan ni Bebot mga mayayaman ‘yan. They own almost half of Europe probably.

Kailangan ko i-repair ‘yan because itong sa insurgency, totoo — toto… [Binisaya.] Dito ako matututo dito sa aking ano na.

May isang problema tayo: iyong human trafficking. It’s not only the people na with anong nasa utak ‘yang selling as sex slaves ganoon.

Itong mga NPA, kinukuha nila ‘yong mga anak. Dinadala nila sa ibang lugar. Kunin ninyo ‘yong bata at isauli ninyo sa nanay pati tatay because a child, a minor, should not be separated from the family home.

Kaya rin ako nagpunta dito kasi Mindanao remains to be a problem. Kaya si Castriciones, sabi ko, ang land reform kasi niya it covers only the — iyong mga hindi nga agricultural eh. Sabi ko sa kanya, “Ibigay na ninyo ‘yong lupa. Lahat nang makita mo sa gobyerno, ibigay ninyo sa tao.”

Wala naman ‘yang… Naka-ano lang ‘yan diyan, hindi naman nagagamit. It’s not being utilized for productivity.

Huwag kayong magpa-ano diyan sa komunista. Kapag nagkasabit-sabit kayo, sinabi ko na sa inyo ‘di ba? I assume full responsibility especially in prosecuting the war against the insurgents. Hulihin ninyo. Kapag magdemanda, sabihin mo “Huwag mo kaming i-demanda. I-demanda mo si Duterte.” Eh it’s a crime. And if a child is inside the house, there is already a crime committed. So you do not need a warrant to go in. Puntahan mo sa loob, kunin ‘yong mga bata at isauli mo at the earliest opportunity doon sa mga…

Is there anything else that…? Iyong equipment, I can say — we’ll see if si director — both directors can help you out. Pero kung ako, mabigyan lang kita ng isang grader, isang tractor siguro this province.

Huwag ninyong ipahiram sa iba at huwag kayong pumayag na dalhin iyan ng maski sino roon sa ibang lugar kasi masira kaagad, sir, lalo na ‘yong iyo hindi iyo. Ganoon ‘yan eh. Maggamit lang, “eh hindi man ito atin eh ’di sige lang.” Kung sa inyo iyan, eh ‘di alagaan ninyo nang husto. And I know that you’d be very strict in the handling of this equipment.

Just give me… Kailan, Del? Maghanap ka ng pera diyan.

SEC. AVISADO:  Mayor, kung pondo lang, funds are available.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Oo.

SEC. AVISADO: Mahutdan man gani ko, mangayo lang ko nimo. (If I run out of funds, I’ll ask funds from you.)

PRESIDENT DUTERE: Oo, okay lang.

SEC. AVISADO: Walay problema (It won’t be a problem).

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: So, ganito na lang, send your representatives here. Do not ask them to go to Manila because it’s quite… Even if you have the money, the traffic will kill you. Pero sabagay ngayon, Gov, okay naman. Medyo maluwang na raw ang… I am not — I have not been there sa EDSA pero maluwang na raw.

So, iyong… Ulitin ko, iyong projects na maibigay, there is no need for you to go to Manila. Somebody will come back a week after to make the assessment at kami na ang bahala doon. I’ll — I’ll follow up the — the progress of ‘yong galaw ng tao.

So, iyan man siguro. We’ll build the… Importante rin eh para makapasok ang military sa mga barangay, ‘yong mga equipment.

So, Gov, kung may sabihin ka pa?

SURIGAO DEL SUR GOV. PIMENTEL: Maraming salamat po, mahal na Presidente. Now, with regards to the ELCAC po, me, personally I’m very very worried kay — your term will be ending tapos sayang ang achievement na ginawa natin.

Ako, na-experience ko na ‘yang nakalaban ko ‘yong NPA noon together — noong 1986. If you will remember, sir, Mr. President, kayo ‘yong kinuha namin na fiscal noong may hinuli akong — si Father Bianchi na pari noon kasi under Region XI pa tayo. Kayo ‘yong fiscal po na tumulong sa amin, kami ni Colonel Adan. Pagdating ng ’86 to ’88, nag-Alsa Masa po ako, pero because of that, natalo si Mama, alam ‘yan ni Secretary Bebot Bello, na-disband ‘yong Alsa Masa ko, na-wanted ako sa NPA. Nagpasalamat na lang ako sa gobyerno, at lalo na sa Philippine Army, prinoteksyunan nila ako. Ipinasok nila ako sa Army for five years para ma-proteksyunan ako. Tapos bumalik ako pagka — pagdating ko noong ’94.

Ngayon na naman, ito na naman, ang dami na naming ginawa rito sa ELCAC. Tinulungan kami ni Senator Bong Go. Ang dami ko nang napa-surrender. Tapos ano ang mangyayari na naman sa akin o sa amin na wala nang poproteksyun sa amin ‘pag natapos ang term mo? Ang request po namin may continuity. Dapat isa sa administration ang ko-continue ng lahat nang ginawa niyo po, lahat ng achievement.

Kasi baka kung iba ang Presidente, tanggalin lahat iyan. Papaano na kami? Kailangan may continuity. So, kailangan kumbinsihin natin si Inday Sara or Senator Bong Go. [laughter]

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Iyan lang pala eh. [applause]

Inday Sara is not running. I have really  really put my foot down. Naaawa ako sa anak ko. Ang pulitika dito sa Pili — kababuyan. Lalo na si Trillanes pati ‘yong anak kong 16 years old ginawa pa ‘tong drug lord. Ito si… Be careful of Trillanes. Be careful of Trillanes. Magbantay kayo. They will sell — he will sell you to the devil pag ‘yan ang nakaupo, patay.

Ako, sabi ko sa mga Pilipino, ‘pag ‘yan ang naging opisyal ninyo, eh ‘di kayo. Walang ginawa, walang hiya iyan sa totoo lang.

I dare to ask again the two generals, am I assured of the supplies that you have? Can it sustain? DSWD pati ‘yong iyo.

USEC. JALAD: Yes sir, as mentioned by the Secretary of DBM, Secretary Avisado, we still have the QRF for 2021, which are being largely unutilized yet. In fact, we are still using some of the continued funds from 2020.

So, it’s just a matter of procuring the needed supplies. DSWD has — still has stocks and we will continue to provide the needed services assessed by the various national government agencies here as necessary for the augmentation of the local government units and the fo — point of convergence, Mr. President, will be the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council being led by OCD. The direct — our director here, Lisa Maso, committed to submit the full report in two — by next week, Mr. President.

They are wrapping up the assessment by this week and we will submit the report to the central office in OCD. That will include already the identified interventions for the benefit of those areas and population affected.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Okay. Basta lang ma-sure. You have te — you know. That’s to note. You have one week to do it, all of you. Ipadala ko kayo dito.

Kung may kulang and if there’s anything to be fixed, do it and come back here. Kung hindi kayo, busy kayo, then send [a competent] — huwag ‘yong imbecile na — a competent engineer in your office. Si…

I will also ask General Lapeña, Isidro, to ‘yong TESDA para turuan sila. Malaki ang budget ng TESDA eh. They can really help if they you want. And Sid is a very good worker.

So, mukhang nasabi naman namin lahat, mayor. And then we’ll just start to say our goodbyes because we have — I have to fly back to…

[Mag-landing pa ba ta’g laing lugar?] (Will we be stopping over in other areas?)

Ah night flight not rated. The two airports here are not rated for night flying. [applause]

— END —

 

SOURCE: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)