By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured that the government remains committed to provide relief and assist in the recovery of communities hit by onslaught of Typhoon Tino, which already affected over 340,000 individuals across MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western and Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Negros Island Region (NIR), and Caraga.
“Tinitiyak ng pamahalaan ang patuloy na pagkilos upang mapabilis ang pagbangon ng ating mga kababayan. Manatiling alerto at makinig sa abiso ng inyong mga lokal na opisyal,” the President said in a statement read by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press briefing.
Castro added that Marcos also ordered some of his Cabinet members to visit the most affected provinces to assess the situation of the residents and ensure that essential services are immediately restored.
In particular, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was directed to provide swift relief aid; the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to conduct road clearing operations; and the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) to address reports of power outages.
Citing NEA’s report, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Junie Castillo said that eight out of the 57 electric cooperatives in Tino-affected areas have no power, while 15 have partial power and 18 are still operational.
“Ongoing po dito ang restorations sa mga areas na ito,” Castillo said in the Malacañang press briefing, noting that some areas in NIR and MIMAROPA have yet to be visited by authorities due to the inclement weather.
Some 10,448 assets and 1,737 personnel are likewise deployed and on standby for debris clearing and civil works. Air assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines are also being mobilized for the conduct of rapid damage assessment and replenishment of food and non-food relief items.
“Sabi ng ating Pangulo ay maagap at mabilis na pagtugon sa mga nangangailangan,” Castillo stressed.
Meanwhile, Castillo said that earthquake-affected residents in northern Cebu were moved from tent cities to other shelters due to the threat of Typhoon Tino—noting that tents need to be temporarily dismantled, as these could not withstand the effects of the typhoon.
“They were transferred to more sturdy evacuation centers, some to modular shelter units (MSUs), and to other areas also. But rest assured na itong mga inilipat natin are accounted for at kung kakailanganin nila ng mga tulong—in terms of food and non-food items are taken care of,” the OCD spokesperson said.
He added that residents staying in the Bayanihan Village in San Remigio were not relocated, noting that MSUs are structurally stronger.
In a Facebook post, the DSWD Field Office 7 (Central Visayas) said its quick response team found that two of the 200 dismantled tents sustained minor damage but all family food packs and non-food relief items stored at the San Remigio Tent City were found to be intact and secure.
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