PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.: Good morning. Hindi na yata morning. Good – magandang tanghali sa inyong lahat.
At nandito tayo dahil nga to make the assessment na – ang mga naging effect ng lindol last two days ago.
So, we will – [Can I have the briefer?] Sige, we’ll – to begin with, mag-ano muna tayo, we’ll get the reports from the different agencies on their particular areas – ‘yung mga areas nila.
So, Gov. Pam, siguro you can start with the provincial report kung ano ‘yung naging situation – situation report ninyo.
CEBU GOVERNOR PAM BARICUATRO: Yes, yes, oo, Mr. President. Number of deceased is 72 for now, number of deceased; 366 ‘yung injured.
Number of deceased, Mr. President, is 72; 366 ‘yung injured — no more critical patient right now; 65,000 families affected.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: At this point, I usually ask how many people are in the evacuation centers but that does not apply here.
Although, we have some – we have some other areas that we are using. But ‘yung dati nating – ‘yung madalas nating gamitin na evacuation center, hindi pa na-clear at saka ‘yung iba talagang nagiba. So, we have to do is an alternative plan.
GOV. BARICUATRO: That’s why, Mr. President, I need a list from the mayors, the list of families and individuals affected. Because otherwise if you cannot give me the list, then the province will have to take over.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Yes? Yes?
DSWD SECRETARY REX GATCHALIAN: Mr. President, I said kanina wala pang evacuation center. But I think this morning, a couple opened already.
We have 563 families spread across five municipalities. So, nagbukas na rin ho, sir, in five municipalities, not here in Bogo but I think there’s some in Carmen, Daanbantayan, San Fernando, San Remigio, and Sogod, sir.
We have around 563 families. Kanina – kagabi wala ho ‘yan eh. Now, mayroon na. But we are sending over the kits and all the family food packs, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Siguro ‘yung report muna ng OCD.
OCD OFFICIAL: Sir, good morning.
So, based on the effects of this earthquake, we have recorded 170,959 affected persons or equivalent to 47,221 families.
And there were incidents of landslide (two); and then structural fire (one); and an observed tsunami (one). Although there are casualties – as reported there are 72 deaths and on our record is 294 injured. But based on the report of the Governor, there are 366 injured.
So, the province of Cebu declared a state of calamity. We have opened four evacuation centers on our record. And there were 720 families inside the evacuation centers.
There are also 597 damaged houses, wherein 501 are partially damaged and 96 are totally damaged. And there are still nine not passable roads, five affected bridges, and three seaports, plus there are still 10 LGUs experiencing power interruptions.
So, likewise, three LGUs experiencing telecommunication interruptions. For our assistance, sir, we already provided around 5.6 million coming from DSWD and other LGUs.
So, for our humanitarian assistance, we have deployed and distributed 6,800 family food packs. Likewise, we have delivered 2,000 ready-to-eat food. And we have a standby fund and stockpile of 60,000 – rather 60,676,590 from DSWD.
We also deployed SRR teams, seven teams, composed of 200 plus personnel. And also, 10 medical teams who assisted in the hospitals and other municipalities.
We initially delivered the tents which were used in the hospital. And there are a thousand hygiene kits, which were also distributed. And so, we provided also fuel to support the mobility assets of the responding units.
So, for now, that’s all that we have provided and assisted the Province of Cebu, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Which municipalities still have no electricity? Aling mga bayan wala pang kuryente?
DOE SECRETARY SHARON GARIN: Sir, Tabuelan and Tuburan, sir.
OFFICIAL: Medellin.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Medellin, wala pa? Wala pa.
[inaudible discussions]
Pero sabi sa Bogo, by tonight daw kumpleto na ‘yung buong… That was your assessment.
SEC. GARIN: Yes, sir, all the backbone are fixed except for the two towns. Ngayon ang next step is aayusin na ng Coop papunta na sa mga bahay, sir. So, [inaudible] can…
OFFICIAL: Sir, as of 6:25, we have two operational switched [inaudible] already Daanbantayan and Compostela. So, transmission power generation is no problem.
Now, the delay in energization is the safety protocol, sir. Gradual ang integration per feeder. So, Coop already finished 16 out of 24 feeders.
So, there are only eight feeders left that will affect about 64,000 households. And the Coop will finish it by Friday. They have to check, papasadahan nila, sir, isa-isa so just to make sure the household connections are not compromised.
Here in Bogo City by 12 o’clock, the four feeders will be operational already. So, on all other areas, kaunting pasensya lang po safety protocol lang po. Hindi puwedeng biglain. There will be gradual [inaudible]. But there is no reason that [inaudible] – for CEBECO II to supply the franchise area.
No major damage in the distribution infrastructure except for one substation na nagkaroon ng leak, and it’s only a minor repair.
So, hopefully by Friday, we can have full integration of the power.
SEC. GARIN: Ang ano lang siguro, Gov, is that to make sure… You just inform us kung ‘yung hospital – if the munisipyo is still operational, that it’s all energized: water, hospital, and the municipal hall.
Because sometimes they report to us so we can double check na rin. Thank you po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, oo. Yes, I think people understand that we have to be careful before we switch the entire system on because baka magkadisgra – magkaaksidente, may makuryente.
But anyway, so, this is quite fast that we are able – mabilis naibalik ang kuryente because critical ‘yan. Ang nakikita namin that are still problematic are the distribution of water and food.
But we have made arrangements already kung saan tayo nakapag… Kailangan you will have to designate, you will have to designate – kayong mga mayor – you designate ‘yung mga distribution center kung saan ibabagsak ng DSWD ‘yung mga relief goods, ‘yung mga water supply, kung ano pa, ‘yung mga health kits, lahat nung mga binibigay natin sa mga na-displace.
Dahil according to the Governor, the estimate of displaced families is 65,000 around the province. So, that’s what we are going – those are the people that we have to support until they find better accommodations and arrangements.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, as mentioned yesterday kay Gov and sa inyo, we have around 300,000 boxes ready to go. At it’s already in the province kasi it’s produced in the province as well.
So, all we need from the governor and the mayors will be saan namin ide-deliver. But rest assured we have more than enough food packs. We also have those small ready-to-eat boxes that’s ready to go for areas na wala pang power.
Mobile kitchen is on site. The water purifying trucks, I believe, is here. We are pulling out some more from the other regions.
But sa food, sir, we’re okay. We just need the help of the LGUs to do the last mile distribution.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, for the water purification, we are also depending on MMDA as usual.
Ilan ang purification units na puwede mong — ?
MMDA CHAIRPERSON ROMANDO ARTES: Sir, kanina pong umaga may dumating na pong 20 units na nakaka-filter po ‘yun ng 18 gallons per minute.
Nag-coordinate na po kami sa LWUA para po kung saan ipo-position ‘yun para ‘yung sa source ng ifi-filter na water. Kasi we understand na medyo brownish pa raw po ‘yung tubig, para po ma-filter namin before distribution po. We have 20 units po now, and then may darating pa po. Kasi ‘yun lang po ‘yung kumasya sa C130, Mr. President.
GOV. BARICUATRO: You are correct, Mr. President. The mayors have to send us the list of mga areas where we need to send the relief goods.
Kasi ‘yung mga – we accept… Centralized namin ‘yung mga donations eh, nasa Capitol lahat. So, it’s Capitol and DSWD who has the goods. So, that’s why you have to let us know saan ‘yung mga distribution centers because we are also sending water tanks, you know, water trucks for the water.
So, please we need the list of the people who are affected for the financial assistance and also we need the areas where we can give our relief goods.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We depend on the LGUs, of course, for that information. And also to – but when it comes to relief goods and water supplies and everything, we need for you to help us where are the priority areas, who are the families that are most in need.
But it does not mean… You know there was a time that binibigyan pa ng ticket ‘yung ano para makakuha. Wala – they can get 10 if they want. It’s not… We don’t count kung ano ‘yung… Basta kung ano ‘yung kailangan nila they can have as many as they actually need. And that’s where the assistance from the LGUs, the mayors, will be absolutely – will be critical.
But I… Once the response – ‘pag nagsimula na ang pagdating ng – doon sa mga areas ninyo ng mga relief goods, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan. Hindi tayo problema kasi nga ‘yung isang gawaan ng relief goods, ng mga relief packs ay nandito sa Cebu.
Kaya’t they produce what? 30,000?
SEC. GATCHALIAN: Sir, a day?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: A day.
SEC. GATCHALIAN: 30,000
PRESIDENT MARCOS: 30,000 a day. So, nakakapag-produce. So, hindi magiging problema ‘yun.
Iyong water supply, sisimulan natin siyempre bote-bote muna. Pero after a while, hindi na puwede kung masyado nang marami. Iyon ang ating paglalagyan ng purification.
Tapos mayroon pa tayong mga ibang mga sistema para doon sa mga malalayo kung kailangan pa rin nila ng – ‘yung mga outlying, mga isolated na barangay, halimbawa, mayroon tayong sistema na para mag-purify para…
May tubig naman hindi lang malinis. Pero ‘yung ‘pag na-purify, puwede nang inuman, puwede nang gamitin na pangluto.
On the water supply front, what is the situation with the local water?
OFFICIAL: Sir, good afternoon. Our report actually centers on the four water districts in northern Cebu. So, basically that’s Bogo, Daanbantayan, Tabuelan, and Medellin. That’s around 300,000 people affected.
Ang initial damage assessment po namin is that water supply, tap water is a function of power. So, habang wala tayong kuryente, walang pumps na gagana para mapunta sa bahay.
So, ang nangyari with coordination with NEA, they promised us that by 12 o’clock noon, mayroon na pong energization ng water districts natin, and from there, kaya nang mag-pump.
Ingat lang dahil sa first na unang lalabas na tubig doon ay flushing water ‘yun. Medyo madumi ‘yun. Also, ‘yung pagtu-turn on [inaudible] gradual also is to avoid bursting of pipes.
Sa damage assessment po rin namin nakita namin na visibly maraming pipes na nasira. However, lalaki pa ‘yan kasi makikita talaga ‘yung total extent once water flows through the pipes. Makikita natin ‘yung gaano kadami talaga ‘yung naging leak.
So, that should be done once power is restored, the taps are on, and then we will figure out how much pipes do we need to buy, including ‘yung pagtatayo ng mga bagong reservoir systems nila.
Saka in the meantime, nakipag-coordinate kami sa MMDA for the mobile water purification machines nila. And we should have a full and complete report, sir, by tomorrow, sir, makita namin.
And then we will have funds available sa LWUA to assist these water districts to rebuild their water networks, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, okay. We… Anong pinakamalaking damage na kailangan ayusin sa distribution system ng tubig?
OFFICIAL: Sir, mayroon kasing water district na nag-ano pero kitang-kita na [inaudible] talaga ‘yung pipes nila.
So, that would need a total reform of pipes. [inaudible] one inch lang [inaudible] standard namin is six. So, aayusin naming, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right, when do you think – anong schedule ninyo na?
OFFICIAL: Sir, makita lang po namin ‘yung total…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Iyong mga area na wala talagang, putol talaga ‘yung ano ‘yung tubo, wala. We’ll have to wait until mapalitan.
OFFICIAL: Opo.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: But those places na hindi naman ganoon ang sitwasyon, kailan makabalik ang daloy ng tubig?
OFFICIAL: Sir, once power is on, water will soon follow, sir. Kasi pumps lang naman ang gagana doon, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. All right.
Have you been able to assess how many, how much – what is the percentage of your water system that has damage?
OFFICIAL: Sir, hindi pa kasi…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Na hindi pa puwedeng gamitin?
OFFICIAL: …‘yung full nun, sir, malalaman namin pagka umagos na ‘yung tubig. Makikita namin gaanong kadaming pipes talaga broken.
So, right now, physical evaluation pa lang, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: When will you finish the physical evaluation?
OFFICIAL: Sir, subukan namin within the week. And then after that, emergency procurement.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Within the week, it’s Thursday ha.
OFFICIAL: Sir, one week, sir. One week, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: O sige. All right, very good.
OFFICIAL: Mr. President, if I may, from the DOTR po, I just want to say po that the Coast Guard deployed as early as October 1 po, two water desalinators that can basically generate 20,000 liters a day, portable water. It’s already in the area, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: How are you distributing the purified water?
OFFICIAL: It’s more of a coordinating with the mayor and the LGUs and the governor po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Again, talagang ‘yung mga mayor, mga LGU, kayo talaga ang first responder. Kami, supporting – supporting ano lang kami.
Para sa pangangailangan ninyo, basta sabihin ninyo sa amin, whatever it — kung anuman ang kailangan ninyo, whatever it is, it’s more relief goods, water supply, whatever, sabihin ninyo lang sa amin and we will try our best to provide.
So, that is the – those are… That is the general report on the effects of the 6.9 – 6.9 on the Richter scale – earthquake that happened here in – that was centered here in Bogo, but, of course, there are other areas that were also affected.
So, the non-cash assistance that – is already in place. We are trying to fix already the water system.
I think we can look forward to the electricity – na kumpleto na ang electricity dito sa Bogo man lang.
Doon sa inyo, naputulan din kayo ng ano – ‘yung ibang bayan — naputulan din kayo ng kuryente, hindi? Hindi naman. The other mayors?
OFFICIAL: ‘Yung Tabogon, at saka Tabuelan.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Dalawang wala. Anong nangyari? Ganoon nasira ‘yung tubo?
So, kung…
OFFICIAL: Sa bayan ng Tabogon, Mr. President. Good morning. Yes, we have no electricity also, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. So, in that case, we know where to send our purification – our water purification units.
Doon natin papadala, doon sa talagang wala pa talagang lumalabas. May pagkukuhanan naman ng tubig, hindi lang malinis?
OFFICIAL: Hindi pa, sir, kasi usually all our pumps are…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Namimigay tayo ng anong tawag dito ng purification. Pati ‘yung DOH nagbibigay din ‘yung tableta na nilalagay sa tubig – the aqua tabs – para nililinis ‘yung ano.
And it’s one tablet per jerrycan, I understand. Sige, so, ‘yun ang magiging ratio. Basta kung gusto ninyo pang manigurado, pakuluan ninyo. Pakuluan ninyo, saka ninyo lagyan nung tableta.
Iyon puwedeng – siguradong-sigurado ‘yun. ‘Yung mga — I’m sorry?
OFFICIAL: Lasang swimming pool kasi chlorine tablet ‘yun.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Parang swimming pool. Parang napainom ka ng tubig sa swimming pool.
Yes, all right. So, we will again ask the local governments where are the critical areas where we have to bring our water purification units.
Because those are the essential food and water, first of all.
Ang kuryente will be done by the end of the day.
And now, alam ko, at this point, lahat ng pondo ng ating mga – ng probinsiya – lahat ng local government, ubos na o mauubos na. Dahil ‘yung gagamitin ninyo sa ibang bagay, napilitan kayong mag-realign para tulungan ang mga tao ninyo.
So, we are – I am – from the Office of the President, we are donating 50 million to the province. [applause] Sa Bogo City, Sogod, San Remigio, P20 million each; P10 million for Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan. And P20 million for all the DOH hospitals para makapag-recover. [applause] And P5 million for each provincial hospital. So, that’s the added.
Besides that, in-instruction ko ang LGSF – ang DBM, mag-release ng Local Government Support Fund in the amount of P150 million for the Province of Cebu [applause] and P75 million for San Remigio, Bogo, and Medellin.
I think, baka the other municipalities – Gov, ikaw ng bahala to find out what are the needs. And then you tell us. This is only an initial release. We are contemplating further releases that will be coming – that will be in the pipeline.
Kasi naman kung magbabagsak kami ng masyadong malaki, hindi rin magamit kaagad. So, we’ll just – according to need, according to need.
And we will depend on the province to give us the ongoing situation reports para alam namin kung saan – anong gagawin.
So, ang mahirap dito sa – ang naging mahirap dito sa sitwasyon ng lindol, galing lang kami sa Masbate na tiningnan namin ‘yung bagyo naman, malaki din ang sira.
Pero ang kaibahan, ang sira doon ibang klase: agricultural, ‘yung power supply, water supply.
Pero mayroon kaming evacuation center dito. Hindi tayo nakakasiguro sa mga evacuation center natin. Kaya ang gagawin namin, maghahanap tayo kung saan man ‘yung mga – ito ngang 65,000 displaced families, kung nasaan man sila, maglalagay tayo ng mga tent.
Ito ‘yung – tinawagan ko si ang dating senador na si Dick Gordon na siyang na siyang namumuno ng Red Cross, at sabi niya, makakapagpadala siya kaagad ng mga tent, ‘yung ginamit noong Covid.
Wala ng Covid ito ha? Safe na ito. Puwede niyo na talagang gamitin para doon sa mga nasiraan ng bahay at ayaw pang bumalik doon sa kanilang bahay. Bawat lugar na ‘yan, lalagyan din natin ng distribution para sa relief goods, para sa tubig, palalagyan natin ng genset.
All of the – lahat nung mga necessities para sa mga na-displace. Kaya’t ‘yun ang pinakamahirap dahil mas mahirap i-repair ang infrastructure. Kagaya nito. Kung titingnan… ‘Yan ang mga – ‘yan ang mga nagiging problema natin na ganiyan na ‘yung city hall. Ito palagay ko, hindi na magamit itong – we will have to – we will have to demolish the whole thing.
Balik kayo doon sa luma. You will have to return to your old – your old city hall, municipal hall pa noon, oo.
But anyway, that’s the problem that we are having with the effects of the earthquake. It’s really about the infrastructure that will take time to be rebuilt and to be rehabilitated.
We even have to worry about the… We passed by the Cathedral and mayroon ding mga heritage site na nasira. So, we will have to see what we can do about that down the road.
The… Mayroon pa ba tayong search and rescue na ginagawa? Wala na? Tapos na? Do we still have —
OFFICIAL: We already terminated the –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: — the S&R stage?
OFFICIAL: We already terminated the search and rescue, sir.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, all right.
So, while we are deploying the – while we are deploying the water purification systems, we will also provide – there will be water tankers, already? O mayroon na kayong pinapadala from the city, from the province?
So, mga water treatment truck, mobile kitchen. Kita ninyo sa ibang lugar, mayroon na tayong – kahit na mayroon tayong ready-to-eat na family pack at saka mayroon tayong relief good na family pack, naglagay pa rin tayo nung mga tinatawag namin na mobile kitchen para mayroon namang makain.
Mahirap naman puro delata lang ang kinain lalo na ‘yung mga bata. So, we have put that up.
And everywhere that they will be a gathering of evacuees, maglalagay tayo ng medical team para bantayan sila. Kung kulang ‘yung medical team, we will have them go around to the different sites para lalo na in case…
Because alam naman natin, ‘pagka ‘yung ganiyan na masikip, dikit-dikit ang tao, magkasakit lang ‘yung isa, mabilis mahawa.
So, we’ll keep – we’ll keep watch on the general health.
OFFICIAL: [off mic]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Mobile primary care.
OFFICIAL: [off mic]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah, yeah tama. Mayroon nga pala taya nun. Oo, Cebu has that pala.
GOV. BARICUATRO: Mayroon kami po. Ginagamit namin sa [inaudible]…
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo, oo. ‘Yun, ‘yun, saan niyo nilagay? Saan niyo dinala?
GOV. BARICUATRO: Nandoon sa ano sir…[inaudible]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oo sige, gamitin natin ito.
GOV. BARICUATRO: ‘Yung binigay ni FL ‘yun sa ano sa –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang isa pang bagay na lagi naming inaalala kapag may ganitong klaseng sakuna ay ang medical care, ‘yung supply ng gamot.
Kaya’t ang DOH, gumastos na ng isang milyong piso halaga para sa gamot, para sa mga medical supplies.
And the system is pupunta lang doon, basta’t may reseta, hindi na kailangan magpatingin, am I correct? Or they will still have to be –
DOH SECRETARY TEODORO HERBOSA: Kailangan pa rin, Mr. President, nung reseta ng mga doktor para tama ‘yung –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh ‘di bale, but as long as we have the – as long as we have the medical teams in the health centers, then they will be able to assess —
SEC. HERBOSA: Just like you said, one C130 with P1.4 million worth of medicines na ni-request ng mga doktor.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: And then ‘yung aming programa na ano – na Zero Balance Billing, applicable dito lahat.
So, lahat ng nagka – nagka-injury, lahat ng magkasakit, lahat ng whatever na may medical issue at kailangan pumasok sa ospital ay kasama ‘yan – kasama lahat ‘yan sa Zero Balance Billing at lahat ng…
So, we are – we are done with the search and rescue. ’Yan lang, ready-to-eat food boxes, and babalik na ang energy. At saka sabi ng – between Department of Energy and NEA, we think that we can – that we can be able to recover the basic services within the next few days. ‘Yun ang pinakaimportante maibalik kaagad.
I noticed noong umiikot ako, gaano karami ang volunteer na nandito. At once again, dumaan tayo sa ospital – once again, nakita natin ang ating mga first responder, mga doktor, mga nurse, mga medtech, lahat-lahat ng tumutulong sa mga may sakit.
The first responders in the LGU. All of those who have assisted and especially the volunteers because ‘yung kami, duty namin ‘yan eh.
Pagka kami nasa gobyerno, duty namin. Mga volunteer, hindi nila kailangan pumunta rito eh. ‘Yung mga nagpadala ng tulong, hind nila kailangang gawin ‘yun. Kagandahan lang ng loob nila. Kaya’t kailangan natin pasalamatan silang lahat.
Maraming, maraming salamat. [applause] At kung hindi sa tulong ninyo, eh siguro mayroon ding masasabi nating nasalba na buhay dahil sa tulong ninyo.
So, I’m – we, once again, demonstrate the Filipino spirit of bayanihan.
Ang lahat ng mga – kung anong mga isyu na pinag-uusapan eh basta Pilipino, isasantabi lahat muna ‘yan para tulungan ang kapwa Pilipino. And that’s what we are seeing once again.
And that’s why I want to put out… I think the expression is shout out to all our – shout out to all our volunteers. And thank you very much for all that you are doing. [applause]
All right, yes? Cong.
OFFICIAL: I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. President. First, I was here during the aftermath together with Governor and the Mayor. I would like to thank also the national government agencies, less than 24 hours, nandito na lahat eh. Nandito na lahat ng tulong.
And with our distribution centers, if I may – if I may also add, Mr. President, so that it would be faster especially in the far-flung barangays, maybe I could also advise the mayors, we can divide into three tulong centers, or distribution centers.
It would be easier for the DSWD and all the national agencies to bring all their help, the local government, the provincial government, so that it would be faster na dumating sa mga coastal and mountains. We have coastal and mountain barangays, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Ang usual – really, ang division of labor, pagka ika nga, dito ay pagka ‘yung more or less ‘yung last mile, LGU. Kasi kayo ang nakakaalam kung sino ‘yung uunahin. Which barangay has been isolated for two days, wala ng pagkain dalawang araw na. Alam ninyo ‘yan.
So, that’s where the guide – we need – that’s why we need your guidance. And then, even in the – kahit doon sa actual na distribution, kailangan namin na – kailangan lahat ng mga tao ninyo at lahat ng mga municipal, city and provincial employees, we also need their – that help because we need the manpower para mabilis nga, para mabilis nga ang pag-distribute. So, we will do that.
Mayroon tayo, we will have centers where – basically, bibigay namin sa LGU. Oo. Basically, ibibigay namin sa LGU. Kung kailangan ninyo ng tulong sa pag-distribute, tutulong kami kung kaya naming. But again, we depend on the LGUs for the grassroots assistance. ‘Yung what we refer to sometimes as the last mile.
So, I think we’ll be – we’ll be able to do that.
The – I will be going to Congress because after the – coming from Masbate, coming from Cebu, I will be going to the Congress, the House and the Senate, hingi – at para makapagbigay sila ng emergency funds.
Alam ko ‘yung mga QRF – ‘yung mga QRF ng ibang mga agencies, paubos na. So, magre-release tayo ng QRF, ‘yung Quick Response Fund na ginagamit namin para immediately.
Dahil sa – especially sa pagdating ng dalawa, ng Nando at saka nung Opong na bagyo na talagang napakalakas. Tapos ito pa, nasabayan pa ng 6.9 – 6.9 intensity ang lindol.
Kaya’t ‘yung QRF, para mayroon kayong magamit, we will have it – we will have it released as quickly as possible.
I spoke to Sec. Menah already yesterday and this morning and she’s making all of those arrangements.
All right, so, is there anything else? ‘Yung lalo na sa mga LGU, mayroon pa ba kayong kailangan sa amin na gusto ninyong ipa – para malaman namin para maumpisahan na namin i-arrange ‘yan?
OFFICIAL: Last thing, Mr. President, I think I can speak in behalf of all the mayors of the 4th district and including the 5thdistrict, nandito ‘yung Sogod, also natamaan din, and the Borbon.
We would like to thank you, Mr. President, and your team for helping us. Less than 72 hours, we are all here. May ilaw na along the highway and may power na, ang daming tulong, thank you very much, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: We had to split the team because half went to Masbate with me yesterday. The other half went to – went – came here, came here immediately.
‘Yung – the Secretary Gilbert was, I think, the first one to arrive here. Because I sent – sabi ko – because when I received your note, I told him, ‘wag ka nang sumama muna sa Masbate, doon ka sa Cebu because it’s a different kind of response that is required.
GOV. BARICUATRO: On that note, Mr. President, thank you so much for responding that evening of the earthquake and to all the national agencies for being here right away and helping us with the rescue operations.
To all the donors and the volunteers, thank you ever so much, Mr. President, and everyone, from the bottom of our heart, from the provincial government. [applause]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Oh, we… As they say, the national government cannot do it without the local governments. We cannot do it without our first responders. We cannot do it without our volunteers.
So, as they say, we win as a team. We are a team. That is why we are doing – we get to do the work.
Basta’t tayong lahat nagko-coordinate, nag-uusap, mabilis ang pagdala ng rehabilitation, ng relief goods. Kaya’t magtutulungan – basta’t nagtutulungan tayo. That is the effect of that.
So, no thanks necessary. We are working together anyway for the betterment of the poor victims that we have had. [applause]
All right. So, okay.
BOGO CITY MAYOR MARIA CIELO MARTINEZ: Mr. President, if I may? On behalf of the City of Bogo, of course, I’d also like to express our deepest gratitude.
And, Mr. President, during the onslaught of the earthquake, our city council convened to, of course, first of all, state – put our city on the state of calamity. And they also convened and came up with two resolutions to just make sure that we wrote down what it is we specifically need in the City of Bogo.
And if I may, Mr. President –
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yeah.
MAYOR MARTINEZ: Give the same two resolutions to you for your perusal.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Sure, yes, of course.
MAYOR MARTINEZ: Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Of course. Of course.
MAYOR MARTINEZ: And we’re really very grateful for your visit. [applause]
PRESIDENT MARCOS: No, no, not at all. Sige, thank you. We will study this.
I hope some of this we have already covered. But anyway, we will – we will see kung ano pa ‘yung kulang.
MAYOR MARTINEZ: Maraming salamat po.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you, Mayor. Okay. Thank you. Yes, Sec. –
DOT SECRETARY CHRISTINA GARCIA FRASCO: Mr. President, as we all know, Cebu is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
So much of the towns that have been affected also have massive effects on the tourism industry.
So, it is reported that over 900 tourism workers have been affected.
There are also several establishments that have been damaged as well as heritage sites. Since you mentioned heritage earlier, the TIEZA team has been deployed to inspect the churches that have been damaged across several towns.
And then the NCCA I understand will be here this weekend also in coordination with the LGU in order that these places of worship that provide much comfort to Cebuanos may rise again.
So, thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you. Thank you, Sec. Christina. We will – well there’s all the aspects. But we are – we do it in phases.
We start with the search and rescue, then we go on to the relief, and then is the rehabilitation, and that includes the heritage areas, et cetera, that have been damaged.
Wala namang naging ligtas dito sa nangyaring pag-ano – paglindol.
All right, so, again, this is not the end of this. If you – it is an ongoing operation. This will keep going until everybody is more or less – hindi naman natin masasabi that everybody makakabalik na sa dating normal. But more or less, nakakapagpasok na sila sa trabaho, kaya na magpagamot, mayroon na silang kinakain, mayroon silang tinitirahan.
So again, this is not a one-shot deal. Patuloy namin – patuloy kaming nandito para magbigay ng tulong kung ano man ang kailangan ninyo.
All right, thank you all very much. Good afternoon.
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