PNoy Orders Assistance to Drenched Bikol Provinces

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 5– President Benigno Aquino III has instructed all national government agencies (NGAs) to give full assistance in all provinces in Bikol region, especially those mostly affected areas by continuous heavy rains.

Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Rafael Alejandro in a meeting Wednesday informed the members of the council to ready all resources to be distributed in the affected municipalities and cities by landslides, flashfloods and lahar flows.

“The President issued the instruction to provide necessary assistance to local government units affected by landslide and flashfloods that include foods for evacuees, equipment, and other facilities,” Alejandro said.

According to the official, NGAs regional offices in Bikol region are mandated to provide assistance required by local government units (LGUs) concerned.

He also reiterated to the members of the council to strictly observe the Zero Casualty policy, full awareness of the general public, and strict compliance with advisories and directives both from the national and local chief executives.

During the meeting, Pagasa administrator Dr. Nathaniel Serbando reported that Albay province will still experience moderate to heavy rains on Friday and Saturday (January 7 to 8). “The La Nina will peak between January and February and Bikol region, especially Albay, is still threatened and expected to experience heavy rains.”

He explained that even if Albay will experience moderate rain for the next days, landslides may still occur because the soil is fully saturated with rain for the past days.

Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) geologist Arlene Dayao on the other hand told the RDRRMC members that most of barangays in Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines provinces are prone to landslides and flashfloods.

Dayao said in the eastern part of Camarines Sur, particularly the Sangay area, all the barangays are flood prone.

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) regional director Nestor Santiago also reported that a P1 million check has been released to Albay provincial government as assistance for the immediate procurement of medicines and other medical supplies.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here reported that as of today, the total damages to rice land already reached P1.369 million in Albay alone.

For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office said that Albay has a total of P7.8 million estimated damages in infrastructure, P61 million in Camarines Sur and P100,000 in Sorsogon. (PNA)