SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: [Recording starts].. As you know we had a 7.3 magnitude earthquake just this morning a little after 9 o’clock. So, your updates:
The President is presently coordinating with NDRRMC and the DSWD. He’s ordered an immediate dispatch of rescue and relief teams to Abra. The President is also coordinating with the local officials there. And all agencies involved in disaster preparation and relief, equipment for use – all of these have been ordered dispatched by the President. He also calls on the telcos to provide immediate assistance and free communication on all locations where towers have gone down to keep these communication channels open. He will immediately fly to the area as soon as the ‘all clear’ is given.
The President and his first family are all unharmed.
Any questions?
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Good morning, Secretary Angeles. Secretary, may mga event po ba si Pangulo ngayon at tuloy po ba iyong mga activities niya today?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: We will have to see. Right now, nakatutok siya dito sa ating disaster relief and response. Ngayon pa lang po dumadating iyong feedback natin about the extent of the damage in certain areas. So the President will most likely put this as his priority and most likely might cancel certain appointments.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Opo. Baka na-overheard ko lang po kanina, Secretary, iyong sinabi ninyo. Is it possible na magpatawag siya ng emergency meeting doon sa mga offices na may kinalaman sa disaster response?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: NDRRMC and DSWD. He doesn’t have to meet with them, he is coordinating with them.
ALVIN BALTAZAR/RADYO PILIPINAS: Thank you so much, Secretary.
RACQUEL BAYAN/RADYO PILIPINAS: Ma’am, si Pangulong Marcos po ba, willing po siya to release additional funds para po matugunan, especially po iyong mga naapektuhan doon sa Abra, and if yes po, from where po kaya huhugutin iyong additional fund [inaudible]?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: If necessary and if we can source the funding.
Q: Ma’am, nasaan po ngayon ang Pangulo?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: He’s at work, at work. Yes.
Q: Dito lang po sa Malacañang?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: I cannot give you an exact location, you know that.
Q: But definitely inside the Malacañang and he’s working and coordinating with all the agencies [inaudible]?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: Yes, of course. Yes, he is.
IVAN MAYRINA/GMA-7: Kung hindi na po sila magtatanong on the quake, I’d like to ask a few questions on the SONA of the President.
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: All right.
IVAN MAYRINA/GMA-7: May ilang puna po sa SONA, partikular ang mga hindi niya binanggit. Minority senators, partikular po si Senator Hontiveros, pinuna ang kawalan ng pronouncement against corruption; Si Senator Pimentel ay naghahanap naman ng priority measure pagdating sa agrikultura. Hindi rin daw po nabanggit ang pederalismo gayong tumakbo siya sa ilalim ng Partido Liberal at wala ding banggit ng War on Drugs? Ganito rin po ang opinyon ng minority congressmen that the SONA was silent on issues on wages and students concerns? Ano po ang masasabi natin dito, tungkol doon sa mga hindi binanggit ng Pangulo na sa tingin ng ilan ay mahalaga?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: You know, the President has laid out his priorities. It doesn’t mean that he is not going to pay attention to other concerns. This is just the roadmap for his administration. But the day-to-day and ongoing activities are considered still part of the program, particularly those related to continuity. So, just because it wasn’t mentioned, doesn’t mean it isn’t in there.
MAYRINA/GMA NEWS: Ma’am, one more please. Pagdating po sa ilang mga campaign promise at doon sa mga binanggit po niya sa SONA, halimbawa po sinabi niya that he is against the imposition of new taxes. Pero mayroon po siyang nabanggit na iyong pagpapataw ng VAT sa mga digital service providers and in fact, he has in his legislative agenda, two measures, two new tax program, itong valuation of reform bill at real property transaction at mga financial intermediary taxation act.
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: I think that might quibbling a little in our—how do you call this, it’s too fine a point. The VAT is not a new tax. We are just looking at the possibility that these industries have not been subjected to such a VAT before and that they should be. So, it’s like social media and so on must be subjected to income tax if there is income that is earned and the same goes for those that are subject to VAT.
MAYRINA/GMA NEWS: Thank you, Secretary.
Q: Sec., last question from Vina Maralit, Manila Times. Is the President planning to visit Abra?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: Yes, he is. He will inspect the disaster-prone disaster areas as soon as he is given the all-clear, as long as it is safe for him to travel and to do so.
Q: Ma’am, so far Abra pa lang po, or is the President planning to visit other areas that have been affected by the earthquake?
SEC. CRUZ-ANGELES: It will depend, let’s make an assessment first and he will go to all those areas where it is necessary, that his presence will be necessary. Okay, we will keep updating you as things develop. So, this won’t be the last briefing for today. We will see you later. Thank you.
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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)
