Lorenzana: No need for quake foreign aid
After warning of a “humanitarian crisis” in quake-hit areas, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured the public yesterday that the government has enough resources to supply food and other needs to earthquake victims in Mindanao.
“The international community is not needed in this case,” he said, telling reporters that “the government has sufficient resources.”
Lorenzana, who has been tasked to lead relief operations, added, “There are local donors who have given while others are on standby.”
As of yesterday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the earthquake death toll had reached 22, with 424 injured and two persons still missing.
Some 4,800 families or 24,000 people from various barangays are housed in 34 evacuation centers.
Asked how much time it would take for earthquake victims to return to their homes, Lorenzana said, “It depends when the tremors will completely stop. Phivolcs advised everyone not to go back to their homes in case there is another big tremor,” referring to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The Department of National Defense chief, who is also chair of the NDRRMC, convened yesterday the disaster council’s response cluster to ensure effective delivery of relief to communities affected by the quakes.
On reports of some displaced persons taking to highways and roads to ask for help, Lorenzana emphasized that people in the affected areas must go to their designated evacuation centers and barangay halls to receive assistance.
He reiterated to barangay officials that they should assist in the distribution of relief items as well as management of the evacuation camps.
Local officials and the Philippine National Police were also directed
to clear the highways of displaced persons and bring them all to the evacuation centers so that they can receive relief. Medical facilities damaged The Department of Health (DOH) said that as of yesterday, a total of 73 health facilities were damaged during the series of tremors which struck North Cotabato.
Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo noted that seven of the facilities were “totally damaged” and “cannot be used in its current state.” The rest had “partial” damage.
The Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence outfit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has started distributing tarpaulins for makeshift shelters and other relief provisions to tremor-stricken communities in North Cotabato province in Administrative Region 12.
The Bangsamoro regional government dispatched no less than 10 tons of relief supplies to North Cotabato yesterday.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has made available its sea and land assets in the transport of relief goods.
The PCG’s BRP Bagacay arrived in Davao last Sunday and unloaded 30 tons of relief goods from Zamboanga City. The BRP Cape Engaño is dropping off 10,000 family food packs, 1,000 pieces of malong, 30 boxes of corned beef, 30 boxes of meat loaf and 50 bundles of used clothing in Cagayan de Oro.
The BRP Tubbataha is preparing to transport tents and food packs from DSWD and medicines from DOH. BRP Suluan would be dropping off 54,100 cans of sardines, eight laminated sacks; 5,040 bottles of water; 26,720 malongs and 1,000 sleeping kits.
Sen. Christopher Go appealed yesterday for more assistance for earthquake victims, as he visited Makilala and Kidapawan City in Cotabato on Monday, after his return from Bangkok, Thailand where he accompanied President Duterte for the 35th ASEAN summit.
Manila Water sent help to quake victims by providing 2,020 five-gallon bottles of Healthy Family drinking water to evacuation centers in Kidapawan City and the towns of Makilala and Tulunan in North Cotabato, and 300 bottles to Magsaysay town in Davao Del Sur.