DAVAO DE ORO GOV. DOROTHY GONZAGA: Damage to our local roads and bridges—987 million plus 2,677,065,732.29 or a total of 3,664,065,732.29. Sa damages pa lang po ‘yan.
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Okay po. Oh iyon, iyong mga bridge namin, talagang walloped.
[Next po]
Those are the pictures. This one, in the middle, I mean, baba na picture, iyon ‘yung Maharlika Highway na at the moment ay hindi po namin pinapagamit ng commuters at saka lahat ng vehicles, except iyong emergency at saka nagkakarga ng mga essential goods.
[Next picture please. Okay, next po. Okay, per LGU. Next po]
Actually, hindi pa po lahat ng LGU nagsa-submit ng kanilang mga reports kaya may mga blangko pa po doon.
Okay, our ways forward, kasi sabi ng guidelines dapat iyong, ano ito, immediate assistance or interventions. So kailangan po namin ang—wrong spelling, continuous, not continues, continuous provision of DSWD family food packs, and the other forms of assistance such as the ECT, the AICS perhaps. We also need continued technical and funding support from the DPWH. We need also the support from the OCD on food/non-food items and shelter repair kits. And those coming from the national government, of course, aside from the DSWD, DPWH, DENR po— kasi marami kaming mining sites so kailangan po natin tingnan siguro po natin iyong mga loss and permit requirements, etcetera.
Doon naman sa mga LGU, we always conduct tree planting, pero that’s it. Walang monitoring. Bihira ang nagmo-monitor kaya—kasi tingin namin, immediate talaga iyon. Kailangan iyong mga tree planting programs.
[Okay, next slide po]
Okay, we also need to have our roads and bridges repaired and rehabilitated. So for the roads, we need 2, 181, 200,000. Sa bridges, we need 2,138,200. For the repair and rehabilitation of revetments or the flood control facilities or structures, it’s 3,889,065,732.40 or total of 8,208,465,732. These figures we got from our friends from the DPWH kasi pinapa-submit po namin sila ng damage ng assessment at saka costing if and when mari-repair and rehabilitated iyong roads, bridges and revetments namin.
Thank you po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, thank you Gov. All right. So, ‘yung nandito sa ways forward ninyo, it’s really continuing assistance from the DSWD. Pero iyong assessment sa roads and bridges, we’re stil— hindi pa tapos eh. We don’t know what—the bridges siguro are the more critical ones. Of the roads that were closed, which are— how many roads closed and how many are now passable? Bridges, the same question.
DPWH SEC. BONOAN: Of the roads that we have inventory, Mr. President, in Davao de Oro, there are 53 sections along the national roads that are affected, there’s only one section that’s not passable right now – actually, the Mawab section. Although there is an alternate road that is now being used actually. So right now, I just instructed our people to start repairing actually the Mawab section of the Daang Maharlika. And I think that’s the only section for now that is not passable. All the rest along the national roads in Davao de Oro, it was reported to me that everything is passable except the Mawab section.
The bridges, yes, the approaches there are— along the national roads, there are four bridges that were affected severely, and these are actually the apartments that have been washed out, Mr. President. In the meantime, ginawan lang ng paraan para maka-access lang muna iyong mga sasakyan. But in the meantime, we are now in the process of doing the engineering design actually to restore actually the washed out approaches, Mr. President. These are along the national road po.
I think, unfortunately, we have not really done the inventory of the local roads for the moment, Mr. President.
DAVAO DE ORO GOV. DOROTHY GONZAGA: Mr. President, if I may, if I may say something, sir. Kasi po while it was mentioned that there is only one section that is not accessible at the moment, iyon po iyong Mawab section po. And it was also mentioned that there are alternate routes. Actually po, iyong alternate naman po cannot be accessed by the big trucks or the loaded ones, puwede lang po sa light vehicles. That’s why direction or policy po ng DPWH is mayroong window period na pinapagamit nila ‘yung—yes, sir. Kasi [unclear] kasi wala talagang ibang madaanan. We tried to request baka puwedeng madaanan iyong Cuevas, it’s somewhere in Agusan, going to Laak which is part of Davao de Oro, pero initially I heard that the governor is not amenable kasi parang maliit lang din na road ‘yung sa kanila, baka siguro din masira. Yes, sir. Thank you.
PBBM: Yeah, but we have to still assess the damage because hindi pa kumpleto ang assessment natin eh, ongoing pa rin eh. We are still—all right, but ‘yung sa sections that are not … kasi siyempre the usual thing that we have to look at the main thoroughfares na para makapasok ‘yung tao natin. And besides that, matuloy ‘yung ginagawa ng tao. They need to be transported from one place to another. I think ongoing naman, Rex, ang ating support from the—on the social side.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, Mr. President. Actually, we’ve been working with the different congressmen, governors, mayors about the family food packs. And later on, Mr. President, I think OCD consolidated our report with them.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: … they’re still going to have one later on.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yeah, it’s already there, Mr. President. And we’ll also explain later on the other non-food assistance that we are packaging already.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh sige, we will look forward to that. Okay. Okay.
OFFICIAL: Sir, in addition to the report given by the governor with regard to the bridges, we are also being faced with the challenge of having bridges built by DPWH but located within the provincial roads. And I think, technicality will tell us that DPWH could not repair these bridges because it’s located within the provincial road. And that is the case in Davao de Oro where we have a lot of bridges damaged built by DPWH but when we discussed this actually yesterday with some officers of DPWH, we were told that DPWH could not fund the repair of these bridges because these are supposedly to be maintained by the provincial government which in this case, I think, is not possible because of the calamity and the provincial government and the local governments could not also afford the repair. This is actually the case in several of our bridges.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, but we are already making the design for the approaches ‘di ba? Na nasira.
DPWH SEC. BONOAN: That’s for the national roads, Mr. President. But these are for the local roads and bridges that we are talking about. In some instances, Mr. President, I think we can avail of some of the … under the calamity fund of NDRRMC.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s the only way I can think of funding it … using the calamity fund.
PBBM: All right, sige. We’ll take note of that. Thank you.
Okay. Thank you, that’s it for now for Davao de Oro. The next will be from the situation from Governor Niño from Davao Oriental.
DAVAO ORIENTAL GOV. NIÑO UY: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Good afternoon everyone, to my fellow workers in government. I am Governor Niño Uy, I am the one who replaced the former… late Governor Cora Malanyaon. I just would like to give you an update on the effects of shear line and the LPA in Davao Oriental.
Our province of Davao Oriental is composed of 11 LGUs, 1 city and 10 municipalities. We have around 196,000 families and 131,000 is affected by shear line. I just give you the summary, Mr. President, for the shear line as of February 2, 2024 and trough of LPA as of February 6, 2024.
So, for our affected population for shear line, we have 131,345; for LPA, 75,243 – this is an ongoing progress report from our local government units. For damaged houses, we have 1,616 for shear line; and for LPA, 932. Partially damaged is 1,266 for shear line and LPA, 661; and for totally damaged, 350 and for LPA, 271.
For casualties, we have two during the shear line – one direct death, natabunan po ng lupa and one was transported sana from one hospital to another but because of the impassable road, namatay siya sa ambulance ‘no.
So for injuries, we have one volunteer or responder now ay Philippine National Police personnel, nandiyan po siya sa Southern Philippines Medical Center. And for shear line, we have one and for LPA, we have also 11.
For our agriculture, in total we have around 351,601,712.11 caused by shear line; and for LPA, 44,361,661.13 as submitted by our Provincial Agriculture Office. The breakdown of which: for crops, 346,099,032.11 for shear line; and for LPA, 37,312,625.30. And for fisheries, only one so far have submitted, one LGU have submitted the report for our fisheries, P5,343,480; and for livestock during po sa shear line, we have 159,200; and during the LPAs 7,049,036 with a total agriculture damage cost of around P498,739,000.
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So, this is the breakdown of the affected population per municipality, Mr. President, for both for shear line and LPA.
[Next slide, next slide, next, next slide, ‘yan]
This is naman po for the LPA which I have summarized already.
[Next slide, please. Next, please. Next, please.]
And also, this is the situation now of the water supply – affected din po talaga ng… halos ng aming mga water supply especially in far-flung barangays especially GIDAs– Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas barangays. So, this is the breakdown of the barangays which water supply is being affected.
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So, these are some of the photos of the destruction/devastation of the shear line ‘no in our different municipalities. The first in barangays Sta. Filomena in Cateel, this is a national road; and also in Barangay Maglahos, this is also within the national road; and Barangay Malibago, this is going… a road going to the barangay proper – also of Municipality of Cateel.
And the one at the right bottom, Mr. President, is Barangay San Alfonso – this is the Cateel River which we hope that we can provide funds for the flood control. Because every time po na tumataas iyong tubig, bumabaha – around eight to nine barangays ang affected flooding din po because on the opposite side kung nakikita po ninyo, walang flood control so all of the barangays going to that direction, talagang lubog din po talaga ng baha ng tubig. On top of this river is the Aliwagwag Falls and the Aragon Dam so medyo mataas din po talaga.
This is the bridge going to one of our tourist destinations, the Curtain Falls located in Barangay Campawan, Baganga – this is also partially damaged. Ginagawan lang po ng paraan ng ating mga residents para makadaan sila. And also, ito mga landslides ‘tong iba.
This one is… this on our left is located in Barangay San Pedro – this is also one of the effects of shear line. Naputol po iyong tulay which isolated several four to five sitios in Barangay San Pedro in the Municipality of Caraga. So, wala pong ibang… mayroon naman pong madadaanan but it will take four to five hours para po makapunta sa sitios. So iyong mga relief goods po natin, ginagawan na lang po ng paraan. ‘Pag medyo okay na iyong tubig, gumagawa tayo iyong parang balsa, oo. Pero ‘pag mataas po ay iyong hinihila na lang po ng pisi ng ating mga rescuer papunta sa kabila.
On my right is also in the Municipality of Caraga. This one is Barangay Cayawan in Manay Provincial Road; and also, sa right is in Barangay Old Macopa, also a provincial road. Ito naman po is in the Municipality of Tarragona particularly in Barangay Maganda. Itong sa baba po is a national road, Barangay Jovellar – ito po ‘yung naka-cause ng malaking ano din… sa mobilization ng ating mga tao because for several days, hindi po din siya nadaanan. But right now, passable naman po siya.
At the center is in Barangay Limot connecting the City of Mati and going to one of the barangays of the Municipality of Tarragona which is Barangay Limot. So nasira na po talaga iyong bridge niya, naputol… about one-third of the bridge ang naputol so ‘pag medyo mataas ang tubig, hindi na naman nakakadaan iyong mga tao. So, may ginagawa kaming alternate road ngayon pero still, ito talaga ‘yung daanan ng ating mga tao. Sa taas po is Barangay Dadong, also in Tarragona, Barangay Tomoaong… also a national road.
Ito naman po iyong sa Governor Generoso, naputol po iyong tulay connecting from Barangay Anitap to Barangay Upper Tibanban. So iyong mga estudyante po talaga, hindi ngayon nakakapunta doon sa kabila. Mayroon namang alternate road pero again, medyo malayo. The residents from Barangays Sergio Osmeña, Tandang Sora, Anitap will have to pass through the national highway – lumabas nga sila then papasok naman papuntang Barangay Upper Tibanban. I think si Sec. Gatchalian nakakita doon during his visit.
So, the next one is ito po sa San Isidro sa Purok Kalinaw ‘no…
DAVAO ORIENTAL GOV. NIÑO UY: Ito ding sa Tumaliti going to Purok Kalinaw and this one po iyong pangatlong picture, located at Sitio Tumaliti, Barangay La Union. This is a road going to the World Heritage site, Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and Natural Science Museum.
During the shear line, magkaiba po iyong isang lane, but during the LPA washed out na po lahat iyan. So, hindi na talaga mapupuntahan ang museum and some communities going to that direction. And also in Barangay Bitaogan, nasira din po iyong flood control.
Ito po naman sa Lupon, Barangay Cocornon and Barangay Tagugpo, so ‘yung mga flood control, nasira din po, slope protection.
[Next slide]
Also, this is in Alupon and Barangay Cocornon and New Visayas. Ang New Visayas po is one of our GIDAs, nasira po iyong daanan.
So, ito po ‘yung effect ng trap. As I have said kanina, ‘yung going to the World Heritage site, ito na po ‘yun. Kung nakita ninyo ‘yung shear line, one lane kanina, but now sa LPA, after sa LPA, wala na po talaga, ubos na talaga, so hindi na madaanan.
Ito naman sa Barangay Magdug, for a couple of days, hindi nadaanan during the shear line, inayos ng DPWH, pero pagdating po ng LPA, ito na pong sa right side ang image, naputol na talaga. But now with effort of DPWH, I think nalagyan ng mga steel beam, so passable na naman siya ngayon.
So, ito naman po sa City of Mati, Barangay Dahican, going to our surf capital of the city sa mga beaches namin. And on the right, ito po papuntang Barangay Macambol at impassable po iyong Barangay Macambol, isolated po sila ngayon from the city going to Barangay Macambol, ang mga relief goods natin dinadaan na lang natin by water, by sea, sa dagat na lang po, ito po sa right side, because of the landslides. Wala pong ibang madaanan except sa dagat po.
Ito pong sa Macambol, aside sa Macambol, this is also going to the three barangays of Mati na na-isolate din na puwedeng daanan doon sa Governor Generoso. Buti na lang naayos na po ‘yung Magdug, but for couple of days, hindi din napuntahan ang three barangays of the City Mati, because of the Magdug bridge.
Ito sa Barangay Jovellar, national road, nahulog po iyong truck ng DPWH while inaayos sana niya ‘yung road, pero nahulog, bumigay ‘yung ano, ‘yung sa ilalim wala na palang lupa. So, bumigay. On my right is Barangay Masipit, which is in Barangay Central Tarragona.
Ito po naman sa Manay, Municipality of Manay. So, again sa Barangay Taocanga, ito po ang –nasira din iyong daanan nila ng mga tao.
Ito sa Barangay PM Sobrecarey, one of our [unclear] areas, so naputol din po iyong tulay nila and in Caraga, this is Caraga and also in Barangay Santiago, part of the national highway, national road.
This is in Boston, particularly in Barangay San Jose, Dakong Banwa Bridge, so hindi na po ngayon pinapadaanan din sa ating mga tao, sa ating mga residents.
So, ito naman po iyong mga provincials assets, provincial roads, provincial bridges na nasira. So, anyway, I will be giving a soft copy of this to everybody naman po, Mr. President.
Sa mga assistance po na na-receive from other sources, from the DSWD, we received 9,822 boxes of family food packs and this is distributed to several barangays. Tumulong din po ang DIXT for our internet connections, of course, nandiyan iyong ating Philippine Army, BFP, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard for the search and rescue operations, and of course our first and second district DPWH engineering office. One of our volunteers, an NGO braces has also provided personnel to help us, including the Philippine Red Cross and DOH.
For our ways forward, of course, after this, we will be requesting [unclear] from our OCD to really access and evaluate the area and the entire distraction and damage of the Province of Davao Oriental for the post disaster needs assessment. We also would like to ask for a continuous provision of emergency shelter from our agencies particularly from, I think, from DSWD. Tumawag na po si Secretary Gatchalian through SAP Lagdameo upon the order of the President to help as out.
Provision of food items and non-food items to affected families, provision of medicines and other health services, provision of mental health and psycho-social support program, provision of early recovery livelihood programs, and improvement and rehabilitation of our water systems.
Provision of long-term livelihood projects, construction, improvement, and rehabilitation of damaged roads and bridges, ito po siguro iyong malaki-laki na kakailanganin natin na budget, construction improvement and rehab of flood controls, construction improvement and rehab of slope protection, construction of safe and resilient transitional housing to relocation sites, construction improvement and rehabilitation of power lines. As of now, lahat po naman ng aming mga bayan, our towns are may kuryente naman po, except for a few barangays.
Construction of evacuation centers, right now of the 11 LGUs in Davao Oriental, nine have already evacuation centers, Mati is already in the process and ‘yung wala po is iyong Municipality of Banay-Banay. Buti na lang po iyong Banay-Baya ay medyo of the 11, medyo hindi po masyadong affected, though mayroon ding pagbabaha, pero hindi po masyado, unlike the other municipalities.
Rechanneling of riverways, relocation of families, living along landslide and flood-prone areas, repair construction on rehabilitation of damaged school facilities, provision of teaching and learning facilities and ito, request for hazard pay of our Disaster Risk Reduction and Management workers. Kasi kawawa din po ‘yung ating mga responders, kailangan din po nila ng at least tulong, because they are also risking their life, especially during these eventualities.
That would be all, Mr. President. Thank you very much for this opportunity and good afternoon once again.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay so, well, ang laki ng damage roads and bridges yata ang pinakaproblema sa inyo. Well, we’ll be undertaking all of these anyway, as a matter of course, pag-aaralan na naman natin iyong mga slope protection, kasi nagbago nga ang weather patents, eh. So, we have to look at again and see kung tama iyong flood control, if they are in the right place, if they are big enough, kung ano nangyari, masyadong malaki ang tubig, we have to adjust to the new normal.
But all of these is ongoing already. At least iyong needs assessment muna, kasi hindi pa tayo tapos doon eh, we are not yet, nagbabago pa rin ang sitwasyon eh. So, we’ll have to wait until, more or less masabi natin tapos nag event. But all of this is ready as soon as we are able to go in and actually do the work. So, that’s the situation.
OFFICIAL: Mr. President, tulad po ng sinabi ni Congresswoman Maricar, ‘yung problema lang po namin one is ‘yung outside the national highway kasi kung titingnan ninyo ‘yung damage, especially, Davao Oriental karamihan ho is mga bridges ‘yung malaking damage namin.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Puro nasa provincial.
OFFICIAL: Nasa provincial po, nasa barangay road ‘yung wala namang capacity ‘yung LGU na puwedeng i-reconstruct or i-repair ‘yung ganoong kalaking damage po. Thank you po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Same problem but si Sec. Gibo will talk about that at the end of the briefing. Mayroon yatang…he has some ideas on how to remedy that situation.
OFFICIAL: Mr. President, if I may just add [unclear].
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah. Go ahead, go ahead.
OFFICIAL: Governor Niño Uy provided the figures for the damages on the provincial assets but as what he has also presented it also included as well as the national assets which I think if I’m not mistaken Secretary has a rough estimate of how much but it could be no less than 1.5 billion as well. At least ang District II and District I have the same number as well, Mr. President.
But so far, as to at least continuing the daily lives of our constituents there Secretary Rex Gatchalian was kind enough also to go with us to visit and so far the relief efforts have been very fruitful and we really thank DSWD and Sec. Rex for that one along with the continuous efforts of the province LGU as well.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We’re really still at that point that as much as we can do for now is to provide shelter and support for those who have been displaced. All of the other damages will still have to be assessed and then we will then have to make a plan, get it funded.
Now, the problem now with the provincial road, bridges again Sec. Gibo I think has some ideas on that so we listen to him afterwards. But, okay so…Thank you.
The next situation briefing will be for Davao del Norte.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV. DE CARLO UY: Okay. Good afternoon, Mr. President, and to all the Cabinet Secretaries as well as to fellow government workers. Unang-una, Mr. President, maraming salamat po sa pagpunta dito at personally pagdinig sa aming concern po dito sa Davao Region.
So, here is the situation report for Davao del Norte. First, are the effects of the shear line weather system on the second week of January 2024.
So, it brought heavy rainfall and flash flood in our province. We declared a state of calamity last January 19, 2024.
Summary report of the shear line weather system affected population is 89,941 families; damage to agriculture is 200 million; damage to infrastructure is 1.1 billion with seven affected local government units.
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Effects of the trough of low-pressure area first week of February 2024.
More widespread flooding and landslide incidents affecting more local government units and constituents in Davao del Norte.
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Summary report of the trough of LPA affected population rose to 170,707 families; one missing individual due to drowning; eight casualties because of landslide and drowning; partial damage loss to agriculture is 44 million; partial damage to infrastructure is 111 million; increased in number of affected LGUs and barangays.
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So, this is the summary of cost of damages – for agriculture it’s 244 million; for infrastructure it’s 1.2 billion.
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So, these are some photos, Mr. President, I would like to emphasize this first photo because this is the Daang Maharlika Highway – this is our national highway and it brought a stand still for four days and hindi po madadaanan ng kahit anong vehicle from Davao going North.
So, ‘yung other bypass road po papunta ng North, flooded din po. So, ini-emphasize po namin ito it’s because malaki po ‘yung effect nito sa economy and delivery of relief goods to the other provinces specifically Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental.
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Ito po, sample picture of the Daang Maharlika Highway.
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So, this is from the municipality of Carmen, the municipal gym which used to be an evacuation center ngayon pumasok po ‘yung tubig.
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Sample also of the Daang Maharlika Highway.
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Tagum City – one barangay. Dati hindi inaabutan ng flood, ngayon naabutan po.
[Next slide please] From the municipality of Dujali, sample pictures.
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And this one is school, isang sample ng school po, eskuwelahan. Marami po kaming eskuwelahan doon na totally flooded po. And nakita ninyo po sample po ‘yan wala po kaming evacuation centers kasi ‘yung school gyms kahit ang mga barangay gyms ay flooded so, nasa daan po sila nagtatrapal lang po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah diyan sila napunta?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Nag-e-evacuate po sa mga daan po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: It used to be a classroom?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Yes po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi puwede eskuwelahan?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Yes po. This is the situation for three municipalities – Asuncion, Dujali and Carmen; more or less 80 percent po na-submerge ‘yung barangays po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: How many persons are under ‘yung ganiyang klaseng shelter?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Marami po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Anong bilang? Do we have a count?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Number of evacuees, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I guess, you can call them evacuees. Well, more importantly ‘yung wala sa evacuation center.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Yes po, kasi ‘yung count po namin sa evacuees na nasa evacuation center po hindi na po namin na-count po iyon, nandiyan na po sa daan.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: ‘yung mga nasa labas?
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Yes po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Do you have a number of that?
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, galing din ito sa province but this is as of I think last night. Sa Davao del Norte the number of families inside the evacuation centers 3,050 and then those that are outside mas marami ho, Mr. President – 51,041 kasi dahil nag-state of calamity na I think lahat na sila considered victims so they can’t differentiate na kung nasa kalsada o nasa loob pa ng bahay nila.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Yes, yes, yes, Secretary. Oo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: What do we do with it? Ang dapat doon ay i-prioritize because they cannot stay there for much longer.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: I have a recommendation in the ways forward po, Mr. President.
PPBM: Okay. We will wait for that. All right, keep going.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: [Okay. So, next slide please]
So, amount of assistance received from DSWD and other sources – OVP 2,769 relief packs; OCD XI, 400 packs– hygiene kits and malong; from DSWD, 91,636 food and non-items.
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Ito po ‘yung sinabi ko, Mr. President, maraming salamat po sa ECT. Actually ito po ‘yung initially na na-approve po ni Secretary – for 70,000 beneficiaries at close to 700 million. Nag-start na po ‘yung implementation kahapon po and on-going po today. But unfortunately the 70,000 count was during the shear line. So, we have this note– additional request for ECT pay out for the remaining 100,000 families po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang dami, nadagdagan ‘no.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV UY: Sana po. Opo.
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So, ways forward: Immediate assistance needed for repair, rehabilitation of roads, bridges and dikes. So, ang inilagay lang po namin sa for immediate action is ‘yung mga major rivers which cause the flooding either because it was damaged or needs rehabilitation.
So, ito po rehabilitation of Hijo River; flood control rehabilitation of Saug River, flood control.
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Rehabilitation of Barangay Cabaywa to Barangay Del Pilar Road; Daang Maharlika Tagum City section, nag-scar po ‘yung national highway.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV. UY: [CONT.] National highway.
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Rehabilitation of Lasang River flood control, rehabilitation of Tagum-Libuganon river flood control, rehabilitation of earth dike along Tagum-Libuganon, [Sto.] Tomas and BE Dujali river, rehabilitation of dike Sagudun river, construction of flood mitigation structure location Talomo Salvacion Esperanza and upgrading of dike along Tagum-Libuganon river Mabaos Guadalupe section.
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So, other infrastructure needs, ito po ‘yung kanina Mr. President, we would like to request elevated barangay or school gyms as evacuation…that will serve as evacuation centers. Why elevated po? is because kung maghihingi po kami ng evacuation center, minsan ang problema sa ibang barangay kulang po ‘yung public land na paglalagyan po natin kung saan po so, one of the options for now i-elevate na lang po sana muna ‘yung mga gyms and, or barangay gyms kung saan ‘yung mga areas totally submerged po ‘yung barangay.
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Other immediate needs; shelter assistance, we have yet to finalize the count po, how many of them totally damaged, this are the figures that we need. And agriculture assistance Mr. President, we have thousands of hectares affected by the flooding, rice, corn, vegetable, banana farmers. If we could request for inputs amounting to 12,000 per hectare for fishpond operators, owners, fingerlings and other inputs 15,000 pesos per hectare and local backyard life stocks racers 20,000 peso per racer.
[Next slide, please.]
Other immediate needs during the flooding, bigla po naputol ‘yung mga water supply. So, we would like request for this LGUs water tankers for potable water transportation. And other immediate needs; rubber boat for rescue operations, we only included the six LGUs municipalities because ‘yung calamity fund po nila maliliit lang po talaga, although mayroon silang mga rescue equipment pero hindi po talaga—kulang na po talaga during that incident.
[Next slide, please]
For medium and long-term projects we will submit it to the different government agencies po.
So again, Mr. President, ang number one ko lang i-emphasize ‘yung daang maharlika sa Carmen side kasi maapektuhan po ‘yung whole economy po natin going north. So, kailangan may medium or short term medium solution. Although, I think initially the DPWH already has a solution, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, thank you. I really concern about those…kasi nga nabaha ‘yung evacuation center na kung saan-saan na lang napadpad. We have to do something extra for [inaudible] kasi, pero ang hirap hanapin. And then, saan natin talaga ilalagay. But at least at the very least magkaroon ng…maka-receive sila ng assistance, so there being extended ano…
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: [unclear] Vice governor said, of all the provinces sila ‘yung nauna naka-submit ng list, so we were paying out na as of yesterday and we will continue paying out. Tapos vice, siguro I’ll just sit down with you the governor and si cong. about the additional ECT emergency cash fund [inaudible]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: How do you handle that two, because madali ‘yung evacuation center, pupuntahan mo lang. Pero itong ganito, ibang klaseng problema ito.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV. UY: Although Mr. President, bumaba na po ‘yung water levels this time. So, mag-i-schedule na lang po kami per area po. Kaya nga po ‘yung aside from the ECT nag-request po kami ng shelter assistance is because pagbalik nila sa mga bahay nila Mr. President, sira po talaga, so maybe additional financial assistance po from DSWD would be of big help to them Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. Ongoing naman talaga ‘yun, that’s the first… ‘yung una natin…well, ang una nating binibigay ‘yung food packs and then after that ‘pag na-identify natin ‘yung mga naging victim, we provide the ECT.
DAVAO DEL NORTE GOV. EDWIN JUBAHIB: Mr. President, dagdag ko lang po, ‘yung mga estudyante basa po lahat ‘yung gamit nila sa eskwelahan, kailangan po ‘yun. ‘Yung mga school things po nila at saka bags.
DENR SEC LOYZAGA: Mr. President, if I may?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, go ahead.
DENR SEC LOYZAGA: If I may propose in terms of the side selection for evacuation centers and the architecture of the evacuation of the evacuation center po. DOST has a platform called HazardHunterPH and on that platform po all the hazards are overlaid on the specific areas ng lahat ng probinsya po hanggang barangay po ‘yun, in terms of site selection for the safest possible site for a possible evacuation center at saka po doon sa design po natin sa evacuation center, elevated po talaga sana, pero ang first dapat po walang mga exterior walls, kasi po kung dadaloy talaga ang tubig, makakadaan po ‘yung tubig at safe pa rin po ‘yung second floor.
So, there are already designs po that are adapted to flood prone areas that require evacuation and I think that DOST can help and DENR can also help on side selection for the safest possible, all these areas Mr. President are really flooded landslide prone. So, we want to make [unclear]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: That’s one part, but we have… we also upgraded our building code for the evacuation centers ha. So, we have to take that into account too.
All right, the immediate needs of those that are still displaced ‘yun ang…that’s where we are now, so we’ll make sure that that’s ongoing. Yeah go ahead..
DSWD SEC GATCHALIAN: Tapos na po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh yeah, I know you have a report afterwards. All right, we will listen now to the report from Davao Occidental.
DAVAO DEL NORTE VICE-GOV. UY: Thank you Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you.
DAVAO OCCIDENTAL PDRRMO CHESTER CAMORO: Good afternoon, Mr. President, I am Harry Chester Camoro, the PDRRMO of Davao Occidental with me is Attorney Jokrin Avara of provincial administrator.
For the information of everyone, since last quarter of 2023 we were visited by two major earthquakes the 6.4 and 7.3 in Surigao and in Davao Occidental and since then last December 6, 2023 we have declared the province under the state of calamity. And until now, we have not lifted that declaration under the state of calamity since last January,
[Next slide, please]
Last January we were visited by weather disturbance, [unclear] released ‘no, usually kasi that the southern part of the Philippines like Davao Occidental which have five municipalities and 105 barangays, we have one island municipality, the municipality of Sarangani and the Balut island.
So, usually po ‘pag may mga easterlies po malalakas po talaga ang alon and bringing—[good afternoon Madam Vice President.]
So the effects of this easterlies wings as to…now evacuees ‘no, ‘yung our evacuation centers usually po mga municipal gyms lang po ang ginagamit namin together with DSWD and other live agencies po in helping them during evacuation.
[Next slide, please.]
Also, Mr. President, we have also this program disaster risk reduction management in help where in mostly, doctors po usually po with the office of the disaster usually work hand in hand during disaster.
Sir, these are pictures showing to you the effects of this weather condition, like most of our barangay bridges and major bridges connecting inter-barangays and municipalities for damages.
OFFICIAL: Next slide please. Ito po iyong situations po in our barangay which are flooded. Next slide, please.
PRESIDENT MARCOS : Kailan iyan? When these pictures—
OFFICIAL: Last January, taken last January, before the shear line and the LPA po.
Next slide, please. Okay. Shown to you is our … one of the major damage po, ito po iyong approach ng bridge namin connecting two barangays na … barangay in Malita, Davao Occidental.
Next slide, please. These are some aerial pictures of the … our river system in … affecting the poblacion area of Davao Occidental, Malita.
Next slide, please. So after that, after the—next slide, please. So ito po iyong effects ng shear line and the LPA. Next slide, please. So mostly, of the two weather system ‘no, ito po iyong affected areas like the Municipality of Santa Maria, Municipality of Malita, and Municipality of Don Marcelino which we incurred three deaths – most of them were recovered already, two were from drowning and one ay nadaganan po ng niyog, puno ng niyog.
Next slide, please. So as of today, Mr. President, iyong one bridge po namin, hindi pa po na-repair; hindi pa rin po madaanan. So our ways forward for the province of Davao Occidental, we may ask the NDRRMC and the Office of the President to help us in our … and the rehabilitation of all of our affected roads, bridges and other critical infrastructures like flood controls. We have also incurred damage on some of our barangay centers like the barangay halls in part of Jose Abad Santos that were damaged during the earthquake.
And also, we would like to ask the Office of the President if we could have, sir, build more evacuation centers na design by the NDRRMC since the five municipalities in Davao Occidental has only two major evacuation centers given by the NDRRMC po. So we are asking, sir, for your help if we could build one major evacuation center for the island municipality of Sarangani and Balut [Island] and in Jose Abad Santos and Santa Maria po. That’s all, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. We’re just talking to Sec. Gibo about the evacuation centers na kailangan nating itayo because these are—again, like we were discussing over lunch, these are … iyong areas that are being affected but were not really affected before.
So anyway, it seems to be … we seem to be in the same general situation here that we are still taking care of the evacuees. And although this rehabilitation of affected bridges, roads and infrastructure will have to be assessed, that assessment will be done as soon as the—it’s—siguro iyong critical, iyong buksan natin, para iyong mga areas na hindi madalhan ng relief goods, na hindi madalhan ng mga equipment, ng kung ano iyong mga kailangan. Iyon muna ang unahin natin. Just get them to …para passable man lang para makadaan iyong mga responders natin, let’s do that first.
So, and then, now ongoing, ongoing na naman ito, iyan, the same problem iyong sa bridges, roads and general infra. But the process is, pagka mag-a-assess iyong public works kung ano ba talaga ang damage, then they will have to design the remedy, kung ano iyong puwedeng gawin. Kung minsan talagang hindi na kaya, we’ll have to build another bridge. So we don’t know how to do it. We still have to see which ones could be that … will be in that … which ones are in that condition.
Okay, and there was a comment about the schools na nalubog; lahat ng gamit, nasira; lahat ng gamit ng mga bata. Yeah, iyong mga equipment ng eskuwelahan, things like that. Anyway, we will … pagka mayroon na tayong numbers para alam natin kung saan natin … saan ang kailangan, we will … the DepEd and then, siyempre the calamity funds again will be availed of.
OFFICIAL: Mr. President, ano po, sa situation po ng Davao del Norte, halos po lahat ng mga bahay are affected po sa baha. So iyong mga gamit po ng mga bata, kasama po doon na nasira po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, nandito si Vice President, so she will–I’m sure iyong mga ano natin, iyong mga DepEd natin will be able to tell us what we need to … kung ano iyong mga kailangang palitan.
All right. We will move on now to Davao City. The reporter of Davao City will be Mr. Bustillo.
MR. RODRIGO BUSTILLO: Yes, good afternoon po sa lahat, To our Vice President Inday and President Bongbong.
For the Davao City situational report, well, Davao City was not exempted with the recent weather disturbance. On January 18, Davao City was affected with the shear line weather disturbance. And with that, we experienced flooding for the 14 barangay, with the total families affected to 1,486, with the total population of 5,531. And along with that, weather disturbance, mass wasting was also experienced in some barangay in our Davao City. And four of those barangay experienced mass wasting or landslide. And with the 20 families affected and 47 individuals affected total. And we have, sad to note, we have two casualties during that mass wasting brought about by shear line.
And during that weather disturbance, Davao City was not totally impaired in terms of its population basically because we were able to prepare and brought our … those people considered at risk, brought to the safe evacuation [unclear] shelter.
So, that was our affected population for the shear line weather disturbance happening in January 19. Next slide, please.
And this is the photo documentation of that shear line. So we experienced flooding. All of the river system in Davao City caused to [unclear] to critical level. And we also experienced street flooding at La Verna Subdivision that impaired our transportation, and some mass wasting particularly in upland area of Davao City in Marilog Proper and also in the Digos area, in Catalunan Grande. So ito po iyong mga impact ng ating shear line weather disturbance. Next slide, please.
But on January 31, just recently, the trough of low pressure area really impacted Davao City. So with that, with the summary of affected population for the flooding, we had affected the total number of population 155,564. And for the mass wasting or land slide, we have a number of population affected into 1,208. All in all, we have [unclear] 156, 772 affected population brought about by the trough of low pressure area that has started January 18 and persistent and within three days of that kind of weather disturbance. Next slide please.
So with that flooding [unclear] that we had, that trough low pressure area bring us so much rain, and 16 barangay is affected with that trough of low pressure area with the total number of families affected into 37,743 or with the total number of population affected, 155,564. Next slide please.
MR. BUSTILLO: For the mass wasting, it increased the number of barangay affected with the mass wasting. So, because of that so much heavy downpour, continues downpour affecting Davao City, seven barangays experiencing mass wasting incident with the total number of families affected 276; and with the total number of population affected, 1,208.
So, with that situation, based on our initial assessment we conducted together with other offices, we’re able to find out with our assessment that there is a need to declare some barangay into the state of calamity. So just recently, just yesterday, 26 barangays that is considered affected with disrupt of low pressure area was declared under the state of calamity. So that we can access the quick response fund that we can also give immediate assistance to our affected communities. Aside from the… for this calamity fund, the city government is continuous to provide those displaced communities both food and non-food items to alleviate their situation. Next slide, please.
So ito po ‘yung sitwasyon namin, one of the biggest impact that trough of low pressure area is the Davao River. If you can see the Davao River, so there is a massive flooding affecting several communities along the line stretch of Davao River. So that is the Jade Valley, the Waan and this is along Davao River – this is after two days of the flooding. So if you can imagine, after two days, we already experienced hot sunny days but still some areas of those within along Davao River still inundated with flood water. And as [unclear] as much as the second floor of houses… particular in Jade Valley.
And also, a massive mass wasting was experienced to the different parts of Davao City particularly upland parts of Davao City like in Barangay Tambobong, Barangay Lamanan, Barangay Saloy and Barangay Marilog Proper. And the good news about this is in fact, we have experienced this mass wasting but however, the collaboration of the people on the barangay with the PDRRMC, we’re able to remain a zero casualty despite of this incident happened in Davao City.
So for the ways forward, considering that Davao City is considered as one of the hazard that we identified in Davao City is more on flooding. So, we have ongoing… with the city government ongoing collaboration with the Japanese government, to the JICA about the study of Davao River to formulate integrated flood control masterplan – and I believe it’s almost done. And along with that plan is the structural measures in Davao River that one of the plan is to dredge from river Davao mouth… 23 kilometers from the mouth of Davao River with the 23 kilometer stretch because as per observation, Davao River at now is very silted and we also look at that as one of the source enhanced flooding within that area.
And also, there was a proposal from the expert of this flood control masterplan to do some cut-off works and to establish retarding ponds and to widen the Bolton Bridge from the mouth of Davao River, four kilometers going inland to Bolton Bridge. That was the proposal of our Japanese experts in order for us to mitigate or reduce the impact of flooding. And all of these things, I believe is together with our DPWH’s proposal so I believe, this will become part of the priority projects in the future for Davao River. Next slide please.
And another thing that we are looking forward is to upgrade our drainage system in Davao City. With that, again part of the masterplan that’s being crafted together with the DPWH and all other experts and all other concerned offices of the city government, upgrading of drainage system was now on the way in order for us to, again, to increase the carrying capacity, the water carrying capacity of our drainage system so that we can reduce or minimize or mitigate the impact of flooding particular in our urban area.
And then we have this constant coordination with DPWH and last January 5, our Honorable Mayor Sebastian Duterte wrote a letter to our DPWH with a particular emphasis on the projects for the alleviation of flooding and traffic congestion within Davao City. And again, also, for the improvement and creation of suitable drainage systems all over the city; and provision and ample budgeting for right-of-way acquisition to allow for a more active transport environment in the city. So that is the content of the letter—
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Is this inventory and upgrading included in the JICA study?
MR. BUSTILLO: Yes, Mr. President. This proposal is in complement with the findings of our JICA study po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kumusta na ‘yung study?
MR. BUSTILLO: I think on the kuwan na po, Mr. President, parang patapos na po. It’s more on the… putting budget on that particular proposal. Next slide.
So ito po ‘yung sulat ng aming Alkalde last January 5 addressed to our Secretary of the DPWH. So iyon po, we hope and pray that this would be… can be taken into consideration so that I believe, we will [unclear] some flooding which [unclear] in Davao City. Next slide please.
That’s all po, Mr. President. Salamat po. Maayong hapon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, itong… I’ve note the letter that you wrote to Sec. Manny. We need to wait for the study before we can do anything kasi we have to make sure na nasa tamang lugar iyong gagawin natin so we’ll look for that. Again, I don’t think the city is [unclear] as much affected in terms of connectivity, iyong mga main thoroughfares. So, that’s… we do not have that immediate problem as we have in the other provinces.
Pero tutukan natin iyong JICA, tutukan natin iyong JICA study para… maybe Sec. Toni, you can now pursue that because that’s… the cost of [unclear] under DENR, the JICA study for the flooding and drainage of the city, Davao City.
DENR SEC. LOYZAGA: Yes, sir. We’ll work very closely with DPWH, sir, on this one.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Maybe you can ask JICA what’s the status of this so that we know where we stand and when we can start moving.
OFFICIAL: Mr. President, the study is almost complete and…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ah, you’re aware of the…
OFFICIAL: Yes, Mr. President. This is the undertaking of the Department of Public Works and Highways and then our four [unclear] programs, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, okay. All right, now the next report will be coming from the OCD. Maybe you want to jump in here at some point.
REG. DIR. DAYANGHIRANG: Thank you, Mr. President. I am Ednar Dayanghirang, the Regional Director. Mr. President, the local governments have spoken as to the damages in their infrastructure and the others. I do not wish to… balikan po iyon – I would like to focus on the assistance provided by the government. Next please.
So, ito po ‘yung mga… the government has already provided 190 million pesos of assistance from DSWD, the LGUs and the Office of Civil Defense composed of family food packs, family kits, modular tents, sleeping kits, hygiene kits, malong, family packs, blankets, jerry cans. And recently, our CDA Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno has approved 15,000 bags of rice, 50 kilos bags of rice for disposal po kasi iyong family food packs na binigay ng DSWD has to be sustained kasi iyong mga victims has to work, to go back to their jobs so kailangan dagdag lang bigyan ng bigas po. In fact, 4,000 bags of rice is now ready for delivery, for withdrawal po sa NFA warehouses.
So as mentioned, of the almost one million people affected, one-third pa lang ang nabibigyan ng tulong. So as discussed earlier, more and more will be coming – this is as recorded by the Office of Civil Defense. So almost one million, then ang nabigyan po 329,000 people pa lang. So, next.
These are the types of other items that we gave – as mentioned: the rice, canned goods, blankets, family packs and others.
REG. DIR. DAYANGHIRANG: So, the response cluster, the immediate response cluster headed by DSWD has already given a lot on, has already started giving the support to our people po. For the health cluster members, nagbigay na rin po sila ng mga jerry cans, chlorine granules assorted medicines, boots, and raincoats.
As mentioned, iyong mga infrastructure damages po will have to go through the Post Disaster Needs Assessment, the PDNA for a more detailed assessment itong mga reported damages. And I would like to recommend, Mr. President, that the OCD will consolidate all these into a regional rehabilitation plan that would be funded by the existing budget of the government this year and I recommend a legislated budget starting next year and (unclear) hindi naman po nating kayang lahatin ito in one period. A legislated budget may be good for all sectors na po, agriculture, infrastructure, health and the others. Kasi nakita po natin na halos lahat ng LGUs ng region are in need of this fund. So, I would recommend a current budget utilization plus the legislated budget for rehabilitation starting next year po.
Okay, I would like to mention, Mr. President, iyong OCD po is in-charge of mobilizing the response of the immediate response during disaster and I think it’s not worthy to explain that kaunti lang po, in spite of the damage na nangyari and the calamities na nangyari. Iyong ating mga local government po, iyong kanilang forced evacuation, preventive evacuation has worked well, kaya makita natin five disaster na po ang nangyari, two earthquakes, one tropical storm, shear line, plus the trough po. If you will count the people dead or we do not wish more people to die, but iyon po ang data natin, pakaunti ng pakaunti po iyong data natin, because our local government, in terms of response, I think are now efficient and effective. Ang kulang po natin, more on prevention and mitigation and the rehab and recovery aspect po ng atin pong disaster resiliency program under Republic Act 10121 po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very good, thank you, there seems to be that common [unclear] although the–Sec. Toni we are talking about mitigation, but we have to make the studies, because the common theme that we get from the LGUs, not only here, but every time there is a disaster anywhere in the Philippines, that it happens in a different place now. The flooding happens in a different place, the landslide happens in a different place from where they usually do. So, the governors, they try to plan, [unclear] alam na namin iyan, we will send it, to this barangay, to that town, to that ano. Tapos iba naman ang pupuntahan ng tubig. So, that’s the kind of–so to maximize the funding that we will provide, we really have to figure out how things have changed. I don’t think, that’s going to be too easy, but, we should get a start on it. So, that the obvious ones, we can already start doing something about.
DENR SEC. LOYZAGA: Yes, sir, if I may, sir. We do have an assessment called the Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment that can be done provincially and regionally. The CDRA is a known tool, we don’t know how many provinces are actually using it. But there are a few already doing a Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment as a basis for the budget for prevention as well as anticipatory action for rehabilitation recovery. Sir, DOST is very material here, because it is the climate projections based on the data from DOST, plus the multiple hazard analysis that combines earthquakes, as well as the other types of hazards. And we are here po to assist in terms of the Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment. We can provide that training and as in partnership with DOST and OCD, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Remember when we were discussing the other day, maybe we can get help as well from some funding from international institutions because it’s clearly very much in the effect of climate change and we can hope, let’s try to access those resources. At mayroon naman, I think, mayroon iyan eh, it’s just a question of going to them and explaining to them, [unclear] we still have to bear the largest part of the loan and the government naturally. But that can be of help to us, kapag mayroon tayong assistance sa mga foreign funding institutions.
DENR SEC. LOYZAGA : Yes, sir. And we do have some provinces already enrolled in some of these foreign assistance. We will just determine, sir, in terms of the region, how many are actually part of the existing foreign assisted and we can also apply for assistance from other partner, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Marami namang foreign assisted, but I’m talking not only on funding, also the technical.
DENR SEC. LOYZAGA : Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Because they bring their experts from international, the best people for this for the effect of climate change mitigation. I think they will be very interested to see how it’s playing out here in the Philippines.
DENR SEC. LOYZAGA: Yes, sir. Particularly for Mindanao, sir, there is a great interest. Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, okay.
DND SEC. TEODORO: Sir, with the problem of the nationally constructed bridges and provincial roads, we can access the NDRRM fund for it, we will just have to change our resolutions, because initially they were made to assist fourth, fifth, and sixth-class municipalities. And then first, second and third-class municipalities, have some participation. But nonetheless, the NDRRM fund is necessary here, because these regulations were made prior to the type of calamities that we see now. So, we will just make an emergency and DRRMC full council meeting in order to re-draft the resolution. We will work with the DPWH in order to assess, Mr. President, the immediate connectivity needs and then the other connectivity needs, because Secretary Bonoan and I were talking earlier in the helicopter that the areas that were inundated and the infrastructures there should not be there anymore. Because they will continue to be affected by landslides and flooding.
So, it will also need relocation of communities, which as evidenced by the current calamities need to be done. So, we will work together with DPWH, our regional OCDs and the LGU, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: So, they will be one who are going to be the best source of information as usual. We are familiar with local conditions, but again on the funding side, well some of these bridges are not even provincial, iyong nakita natin. May footbridge pa.
DND SEC. TEODORO: Opo. [unclear]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero kailangan ng tao iyon eh, ginagamit nila iyan e. So, those are the relatively quick fixes, are the smaller one, but iyong mga dinadaanan na ng truck, whatever it is, whether they are national road or provincial road or municipal, eh iyon ang kailangan nating tingnan, because that’s the flow of commerce and for our immediate needs na nga, that we have to be able to access those areas.
DND SEC. TEODORO: And there is also a logistical effort, Mr. President on our part spearheaded by the Armed Forces and with the PNP. Aside from the land assets of the Philippine Army, that are here, we have devoted six helicopters for airlift and two naval vessels, Mr. President to attend to this and we can deploy more as necessary. Thank you, Mr. President. Sec. Benhur has an intervention, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Mr. President on the part of the DILG, the Bureau of Fire, and the PNP is also helping our LGUs.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: …And likewise, I was listening and the problem is the drinking water and it’s quite difficult to reach them because of the bridges that were destroyed. What we’ve got is a backpack portable, I just called up MMDA and they’re more than willing to send their teams here, Mr. President. This one is to help our LGUs.
And likewise, tama po si Mr. Dayanghirang, magagaling po ang ating mga governors, ang ating mga mayors because of the Oplan Lista that we have, the checklist on the ground at kaya medyo nabawasan po talaga maski na grabe ang damage halos iyong fatality kakaunti. So, I would like to congratulate really the executives.
PRESIDENT MARCOS : If there is any good news in this is that the quick action, quick response of the local governments has minimized the casualty number, casualty rate. Although, having said that iyong infrastructure na damage ay talagang malaki. There’s agricultural damage as well but the more difficult one to fix will be the infrastructure damage – the bridges, the approaches, the road, all of these infrastructure that we have seen that…kasi naman it was built hindi dinadaanan ng tubig dati iyan eh. Kaya it was built to the conditions that existed before – nagbago nga eh. So, that’s why we will have to redesign everything and make sure that if happens again eh medyo mas matibay na iyong ating mga gagawin.
Okay. Yes.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: I was supposed to do the response but luckily nasalo na ako ng OCD. My presentation has already been bended into their presentation. Mr. President, three things na paulit-ulit po kasi sa ways forward ng mga governors iyong family food packs and based on our instruction lagi iyan iyong priority. Nandoon ako kanina…[unclear] aggregated data of how much family food packs we release – this one is dated yesterday but kanina as of the presentation it’s close to 250,000 family food packs just for this region.
Admittedly, Mr. President, it’s one of the larger releases natin but we have more in the warehouse and more is coming in and based on your instructions na we’ll keep on sustaining it so one way or another we’ve communicated to the governors, the congressional representations, the mayors that they can lodge their request sa regional office, we still have stocks and we’ll continue doing so.
Mr. President, also I’d like to mention that over the weekend, tama si Sec. Gibo, the Air Force and the Navy have been moving our goods from one point to another. In fact, doon kina [unclear] and General Generoso, through the Navy that brought the family food packs and then doon Gov. sa couple of towns in Caraga, it was airlifted by the choppers ng Blackhawks ng Air Force and they’ll continue doing so, we still have the goods, so we’ll continue doing that, President.
Number two, Mr. President, the mention of the Emergency Cash Transfer which you’ve also instructed na people will have to move from food to cash. So, as mentioned the Davao del Norte group has already submitted their list, we initiated the pay out yesterday. But may dagdag pala, so we’ll just wait for the listing ulit, I think the provincial government and si Cong. Dujali has been very active in scouring the area and giving us the list. We already made representation and spoken to the congressional representatives, the governor about the other provinces na sana mabigay na iyong list so we can start doing the pay out, so we can transition from food to cash. Kasi we always say nga na, Mr. President, na hindi lahat ng kailangan nila matatagpuan doon sa kahon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo nga, exactly.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Also, based on our discussions they really need the cash because nga, some of them may not have been affected physically iyong bahay but iyong livelihood hindi nakapangisda, hindi nakapagsaka. So, I think we’ve already [unclear] with almost everybody in the table privately one way or another over the week na if they can send the list over, we can immediately download the cash sa regional office namin and initiate the pay outs. We’re also adding more special disbursing officers para simultaneous ho sa iba-bang mga probinsiya.
And last, Mr. President, the next slide, the more important slide that I’ve been tasked to read iyong sa Office of the Presidential Assistant.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, I was tasked by your office to go through this list. So, for the information of the governors and the affected LGUs, on top of the Emergency Cash Transfer, hiwalay ho ito, our President has authorized the release from his Presidential Social Fund a total amount of 265 million and the breakdown are as follows: the province of Davao del Norte will get 30 million; the province of Davao Oriental will get 30 million; the province of Agusan del Sur will get 30 million; the province of Davao de Oro will get 30 million; the province of Surigao del Sur will get 25 million; the province of Maguindanao del Sur 25 million; Davao City, 20 million; Butuan City, 20 million; province of Davao Occidental, 20 million; the province of Agusan del Norte, 15 million, the province of Cotabato, 10 million; and the province of Bukidnon, 10 million – to sum of 265 million.
So, for the information of the governors, the President has authorized the immediate release of the Presidential assistance from his Presidential Socio-Civic fund on top of the emergency cash assistance that he has also authorized.
So, the President has instructed us to mobilize food and cash immediately. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: I think, from the reports that we have had I think that we are doing alright in the provision of food packs etcetera but as Secretary was explaining that it gets [unclear] to the point na hindi na pagkain, hindi lang pagkain ang kailangan ng tao – that they need to buy other things na para sa kanilang household ‘no. So, that’s why the ECTs have become very important and that’s why I released 265 million to make sure that the phase of the response is immediate at maramdaman kaagad ng tao mayroon kaagad silang tulong, maramdaman nila kaagad kung ano iyong kailangan…kaya mayroon silang gagamitin sa pangangailangan nila.
So, that is the—the other thing I wanted to ask about is there was only one report about the problem on water supply. What do we do in terms of providing…usually kumukuha tayo ng mga purifiers [unclear].
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Sir, itinawag ko na and tomorrow darating na po sila. I’m just looking at the [unclear].
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Siyempre, that’s very important kasi kung hindi sapat iyong tubig people will start drinking from questionable sources, magkasakit pa they will have outbreak of all kinds [inaudible].
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Sir, ang dadalhin po hindi tankers – mga portable po na naka-backpack lang.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong bago maliit na eh. Puwede nang hindi na kailangang iano…puwedeng dalhin kahit saan para maka dahil…it’s okay, we will bring as much water as we can but hindi puwedeng iyon na lang, we cannot keep bringing water we have to provide them a water supply that is sufficient without bringing in bottled water. So, our solution to that has always been to bring water purifiers, some kind of water purifier. Dati, truck-truck pa iyan, ngayon the technologies have improved – puwede nang dalhin ng tao. So, that’s what we will—because I didn’t see very much response in terms of the water – that’s always but that’s as critical as anything else especially at this point because well we cannot do anything without clean water.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: And, Mr. President, they are all solar powered.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: How many can we [inaudible].
DILG SEC. ABALOS: We could immediately mobilize at least 80 teams and we’re actually asking for more from MMDA. So, I will just coordinate with Sec. Gibo for the transportation tomorrow.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong [unclear] especially the more isolated areas.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Na hindi naaabot ng mga bottled water na pinapadala natin – those are the priority areas. So, anyway from the general reports that we’re getting, I think that we are alright in terms of relief pero mayroon na naman tayong nag-landslide, so we have to go back again to search and rescue pero anyway for the most part medyo maayos naman, sufficient naman ang ibinibigay na relief goods in terms of ano and the other things such as the sanitation kits and all the other non-food items that are also being brought by DSWD.
So, just continue to inform us as to what is needed dahil iyong mga numero natin ngayon hindi na iyan, tumaas na iyan eh, dumami na iyan. As you can see from the changes that we have seen from the shear line to the LPA, there are changes now tapos still the event is still ongoing in some areas – so, we’ll have to watch that.
The infrastructure problem really we will have to…again we’ll prioritize the thoroughfares, the roads that are necessary for us to be able to bring whatever relief goods are necessary – all of these water purifiers, etcetera, the equipment that’s necessary. Make sure every that barangay maabot natin, iyong mga isolated iyon ang unahin natin, maghanap tayo ng paraan na makadaan iyong mga sasakyan natin para maidala iyong mga pangangailangan again the food and non-food items of the DSWD.
Iyong helicopter is okay pero kakaunti lang ang kanilang kayang dalhin, we need truck-truck ang kailangan diyan eh.
DND SEC. TEODORO: Yes, sir, truck-truck at saka tau-tao plus helicopters. But, sir, I’ve asked General Brawner also to reach out to his counterparts. Maybe there may be an opportunity for mutual combined operation. Likewise, Mr. President, I also requested General Brawner because we’ve noticed that we have meals ready to eat that our troops in the field really don’t eat because they like hot meals and these are perfect for evacuation centers because there are already MREs, they are about to expire some of them – so, maybe we can swap with the DSWD for rice and canned goods which our troops really use rather than the MREs.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, para i-recycle na natin.
DND SEC. TEODORO: And the MREs, sir, are very convenient because they are already individual food packs for three meals a day.
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Your directive to rethink the design of our action plans I’d like to inform the local government that DOST, OCD and the World Bank in collaboration with other agencies develop the PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild and this is an automated planning together with your input you’ll be able to look at all the multi hazards that can affect your areas and plan better para maganda po iyong ating rebuilding after all the emergency interventions have been finished then we can actually train your planners together with the national agencies and sit down and plan better for your local government. So, PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: For the immediate, I was about to ask you what’s the weather look like?
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Mababa na po iyong ulan but the problem with the landslide na nangyari kahapon there can be a lag time, kahit maliit ang ulan may mga deep landslides po na nangyayari. Eh iyong deep landslide iyong nakakatabon talaga ng structure.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: At saka mukhang from the comments of the LGUs mukhang naapektuhan noong lindol.
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Yes po. So, the earthquake…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Generally speaking with this kind of rain hindi naman gumuguho iyan.
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Correct po
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Siguro nag-liquefy na nang kaunti iyan.
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Na-loosen na po. So, everytime there’s a major earthquake, we have to worry about multiple landslide when the rains come.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: In your, the best forecast we have, we do not expect any heavy rains anymore for the next couple of weeks, at least three weeks?
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Mayroon pa pong mga kaunting ulan.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kailangan talagang bantayan.
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Ang Davao region, ang Caraga po ang areas na hindi forecast na maapektuhan ng El Niño kasi maulan talaga ang forecast, kaya po nangyari po na iyong dalawang region lang talaga ang naapektuhan.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Hindi ba natin puwedeng ilipat iyong ulan doon sa [inaudible]
DOST SEC. SOLIDUM : Kapag ganito pong panahon, mga late December on this quarter, kasi papunta dito sa Mindanao iyong ulan eh.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay. Well, that’s the best forecast that we have, mukhang mayroon pa rin na ulan, kung kailangan pa rin na bantayan ito. So, those areas that we already have identified that will be flooded, that are be flooded baka we will have to take care of those… the evacuation first, huwag muna nating pabalikin sa mga bahay baka maapektuhan na naman sila.
Anyway, this is… I think again, so hear to go over it again relief goods etcetera I think okay, water supply will going to attend too…and make sure that we’ll continue to bring in bottled water as much as we can. But if can’t get to a point na hindi talaga kaya na dahil ang bigat bigat eh at saka ang laki dinadala, it’s much easier, much better to have the purifier. So, that we will bring to those areas that needed it.
On the infrastructure side; we will prioritize those [unclear] roads and thoroughfares that are necessary for us to be able to provide support for those who have become victims, so iyon ang unahin natin.
On the longer term; we really have to start design, looking at the design of this bridges and road to see kung if they are still the design are still compatible with the weather patterns and the effects that DENR is going to provide us with guidance in terms of how we proceed. Because we cannot…kung ire-rebuild lang natin lahat ng nasira ganoon din ang mangyayari, that’s the same thing will happen. Or if we’re going rebuild it, we have to rebuild by being a way, that is more, kailangan mas matibay, kailangan build strong etcetera, so that’s something that I think that we can attend to as quickly as possible but again, the situation is still changing.
All right. So, and then in terms of the cash transfers, that one is immediate, so it’s now up to LGUs to provide us with the listing etcetera, but we will already release this. kayo ng bahala kung saan ninyo dadalhin, because of course have the…you know kung sinong nangangailangan more than anybody else.
All right. I think that quickly much covers everything that we have. Other any other things that the governors, congressman would like to talk about. Ano ang kailangan ninyo?
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Mister President, just to add, kausap ko na po iyong MMDA there’ll be tomorrow, there’ll having a 80 machine which will give about 180 gallons per hour ang isang makina po, so madami po ito dire-diretso po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Very practical iyong mga kakilala ko.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: Hundred eighty gallons per hour, one machine.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Kahit saan kumuha ng tubig puwede, paglabas malinis talaga.
DILG SEC. ABALOS: So, tomorrow po, magde-deliver na po ng MMDA.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: O sige. All right.
OFFICIAL: One more request po, for the DSWD kasi nga, because of the landslide that we had last night. There are many that we evacuated in several evacuation centers. So, we need ASAP po sana mga additional tents po.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Yes, Ma’am.
OFFICIAL: Tents po. Shelters, kasi andoon lang sila sa mga gym iyong iba, tapos walang–
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Mga ilan ang [inaudible]
OFFICIAL: Kasi, 800 families…kasi tatlong barangays po na-evacuate namin.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sige Gov., will mobilized it, mayroon ho kami kakadating rin lang.
OFFICIAL: Okay, thank you po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: That is…kasi nakapag-forward placement tayo, in other words bago pa dumating nailapit na namin lahat ng gamit. So, that’s why they response relatively quick para…but again, we have to hear from you, from the local government, kasi kayo nakakaalam. The national government is only into support you, with all of these. But you have to make the request to us, para naman mabigyan natin ng tulong.
OFFICIAL: Mister President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes. please go ahead.
OFFICIAL: Mister President, ang immediate po na kailangan ng Davao del Norte, iyong pagkain, tubig at food packs po at iyong mga gamit po sa mga bata para sa pagbalik nila sa eskwela. And tanong ko po Mister President, ito lang po gusto ko lang i-clear. Kung during the distribution of the food packs or any support coming from the national government or coming from the Department of Social Welfare and Development or the DOLE, sino po ba ang authorized to distribute, is the local government ba like munisipyo, the city, the province or any elected official po?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iba-iba, depende on what distance is. Yes, go ahead.
DSWD SEC. GATCHALIAN: Gov. like in the food packs kasi, iba-iba iyong request na natatanggap namin and we try to fulfill ng sabay, sabay. There will be request from provincial level, will give it to the province; will be request direct from the mayors, will give it to the mayors; will be request from congress, people would give it to the congress people. So, at this point time I would assume dahil lahat tayo busy, the different elected officials are all pass move all of the same time, so iyon.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Usually, ganoon ang sistema sa local government talaga binababa. Mayroon like iyong sa DOLE, sa DOLE isa’t bawat isa sila ang nag-aasses eh, silang gumagawa ng assessment, but for the most part, it’s really local government, kasi sinasagot lang namin iyong request ninyo.
OFFICIAL: Yes po Mister President, kasi during calamity ang kumukuha ng data at ang gumagawa ng quick response, the munisipyo, the city and the province and also collecting data, kami ang lahat ng in-charge iyong LGU at LGU. But, like what happen in Davao del Norte, minsan kasi hindi po nakarating sa province pero na-distribute iba naman ang nag-distribute. And gusto ko pong mag-thank you po kay Ma’am Inday Sara, na quick response nagbigay kaagad siya ng support doon sa Davao del Norte po, thank you so much po Ma’am.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Anton, you had nothing to add?
SAP LAGDAMEO: Well, lahat naman na nag-request doon naman ibibigay, ‘pag hindi mag-request hindi nabibigay, tapos, ‘pag nawawala dito, hindi rin nabibigay sa inyo. Kung wala kayo, we have to go to the next who’s there, so iyon ‘yung mga nangyayari.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Pero, mostly LGU talaga, LGU talaga ang inaasahan namin. We depend on, we cannot… the national government cannot do this by itself. As I said, we are support, we support you cash transfer with relief good. But, kayo ang magsasabi sa amin kung saan dadalhin, kung saan ang uunahin, saan iyong hindi na nga puwedeng [unclear] ipasok etcetera. That’s why…nakita naman ninyo, kapag maganda iyong quick response na ginagawa ng LGU kagaya ngayon, may magandang effect talaga. So, that’s why we are trying to improve our forecasting para makapag-warning kami ng maaga sa inyo. Makapaghanda kayo for whatever it is that is coming your way, so except lindol, siyempre hindi pa natin ma-forecast siya. So, that’s general situation ‘pag release ng mga resources, mga tulong. So, yes LGU parin LGU… LGU centric ang National Government.
All right, is there anything else that anybody would like to add. All right, thank you very much.
END
