President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the creation of a task force for the government’s response on the devastation of Typhoon Ulysses and Super Typhoon Rolly, with both leaving at least 59 people dead and a swathe of destruction in much of Luzon.
“Our government is making guidelines to help our people affected by the typhoon. Thus, I created a trask force,” Duterte said in a televised address heard nationwide.
“I directed them to streamline, to hasten the rehabilitation efforts [for those] affected by the typhoon. Second, the task force is made up of different agencies and all are involved in this,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a series of Viber messages to reporters, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal said 16 deaths were recorded in the Cagayan Valley region, six in Calabarzon, five in Bicol, and six in the Cordillera region.
The number of injured was placed at 22 – three in Cagayan Valley, nine in Calabarzon, eight in Bicol, and two in the Cordillera region.
Those reported missing are now at 20 with five in Cagayan Valley, two in Calabarzon, eight in Bicol, and five in the Cordillera region.
Timbal said damage to agriculture had been estimated at P968 million in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, and Cordillera, while damage to infrastructure was placed at P253 million in Ilocos and Mimaropa.
Some 3,013 houses were also damaged in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.
In Central Luzon, disaster-control officials recorded P52 million in damage to agricultural lands, planted to high-value crops including palay, in at least 101 villages in Pampanga.
Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Officer Angelina Blanco said over 2,200 hectares of agricultural lands have been inundated by widespread flooding.
“Ulysses has left wide damage to agriculture, residential houses and government infrastructure in Pampanga,” said Blanco, citing reports from line government agencies including the Provincial Agriculture Office.
Blanco said P617,500 worth of livestock including poultry buildings had been damaged in Magalang and San Simon towns.
Strong winds flattened 182 houses while 1,666 more others have been partially damaged in almost all towns in the province.
Meanwhile, state pension fund Government Service Insurance System said it was offering emergency loans to its members and pensioners affected by Ulysses, Rolly and other typhoons that hit the country since October this year.
GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said “Members and pensioners may borrow P20,000 under the GSIS Emergency Loan Program. The loan is payable in 36 equal monthly installments at only 6 percent interest rate,” Macasaet said in a statement.
Qualified to apply are members who are in active service and not on leave of absence without pay; have no pending administrative or criminal case; and have a net take-home pay of not lower than P5,000 after all required monthly obligations have been deducted.
Those that have due and demandable loan accounts (have arrears of over six months) are now allowed to renew their previous emergency loan from a different calamity (excluded under the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program).
It was on November 1 when the country faced the wrath of Super Typhoon Rolly, killing at least 22 people and damaging properties while Typhoon Ulysses ravaged the country last Wednesday, November 12, submerging much of Luzon, particularly Central Luzon north of the capital and the Cagayan Valley hemmed in by the Sierra Madre and the Caraballo Mountains.
The President said the task force would be given a time line to lay out plans ensuring that response and relief operations would not be delayed “and cut the red tape to facilitate delivery of aid for the affected residents.”
“All of the agencies are in the task force. I gave them a time line for them to make steps ensuring there will not be any delay in the distribution of aid,” he said.
The President said these agencies were working round the clock, adding “all those who could give help are there. The Coast Guard has helicopters in the area. The search and rescue has support forces. The Coast Guard has already been deployed in Region 2.”
The chief executive said the Philippine Coast Guard, Army, and Navy were being deployed for search and rescue in submerged areas.
In Malacañang, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government vowed not to leave anyone behind in the on-going relief and other response efforts undertaken by various government agencies in all areas affected by the two typhoons that wrough massive damage to the Bicol region and Central Luzon, including Metro Manila.
“No one will be left behind. We will get through this crisis,” Roque said.
In a statement, Roque cited data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council which said Ulysses had less reported casualties and injuries compared to 2009’s typhoon Ondoy that recorded a death toll of 464 with 529 injured.
“We can see how prepared is the administration under Presidente Duterte,” said Roque, adding “the President was always there monitoring and advising the people to keep safe.”
On the part of the DILG, Secretary Eduardo Año said 99 percent of local chief executives in affected areas were present in their areas of responsibility, all of whom have convened their local DRRMCs, established local emergency operation centers, and activated their disaster and emergency response teams.
In terms of the clearing of roads, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar reported that 40 roads sections had been cleared as of date, while the remaining 52 road sections currently closed due to landslide and debris would be cleared before Sunday.
Elsewhere, former Vice President Jejomar Binay urged the government to immediately augment the calamity funds of local government units in the areas affected by Rolly and Ulysses.
“National government should immediately act to augment the calamity funds of LGUs. The funds are almost depleted because of the aid they extended during the lockdown and the typhoons. Their resources and manpower have been stretched to the limits,” Binay said.
Binay, who served as Makati City mayor from 1986 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2010, noted that while the Department of Budget and Management said it would release P1.9 billion to the affected areas, the amount will be disbursed to national government agencies.
Likewise, he said the remaining balance of P1.7 billion from the remaining P3.6 billion National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund might not be enough considering the extent of damage
caused by the typhoons throughout Luzon.
“The national government should give immediate aid to those who provide aid. They are tired but they continue to serve),” he added.
Earlier, the DBM was reported to have released only P3.545 billion of the P140-billion emergency pandemic response under Bayanihan 2.
