President targets people “who contributed a lot to this warming”
(Briefing for President Duterte by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in Cagayan Valley Region Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Nov.15, 2020)
NDRRMC UNDERSECRETARY RICARDO JALAD:
Good afternoon, Mr. President, as well as to our Cabinet secretaries and other officials.
I will provide an update regarding the effects and our actions in connection with Typhoon Ulysses. For the monitored effects as of today, we have 69 from six regions in Luzon. Only Region I did not have any casualty.
With the highest in Region II, followed by CALABARZON and then the Cordilleras. Affected population number about 285,000 or almost 286,000 families or 1.1 million individuals.
Typhoon Ulysses also damaged more than 3,000 houses. On the damage to agriculture, the initial estimate is almost 1 billion while for the infrastructure is 253 million.
Shown are some of its effects: the storm surge in Polillo Quezon as well as a flashflood in Barangay Hinipaan, Bagamanoc, Catanduanes. Fortunately, we didn’t have any casualty in this incident.
The flood affecting parts of Rizal and Marikina City and Pasig and the — a ship that rammed the shoreline of Navotas — flooding also in Pasig. Shown is a drone footage of the flooding in Cagayan.
NDRRMC took actions before the floods
And for our actions taken: We conducted prior to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses or days before it made landfall, we conducted a series of meetings. We issued preemptive evacuation instructions through the DILG.
We issued typhoon warnings at various positions, directives, and we activated physical and virtual emergency operations center in the main operations center of the NDRRMC in Quezon City as well as in the various Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Operation Center.
We issued a total of 76 emergency alert and warning messages through the telcos. And we also emphasized the cascading of information down to the community through other means such as utilizing the communication system of the uniformed services — the PNP, AFP — as well as to cascade information house-to-house or bandillo.
4,000 mobilized for search and rescue
Of course, we also conducted aerial rapid assessment over Metro Manila and there was also conducted the same assessment here in Region II. We mobilized almost 4,000 search and rescue personnel.
Utilizing these assets: 62 land assets, 30 water assets and 9 air assets. And our efforts saved or rescued 83,667 individuals.
And shown is the number of individuals provided with relief assistance as well as medical services: 44,000 provided with relief services and 28,000 with medical services. Here are some pictures of our search, rescue and retrieval, and relief operations.
Now, may I call on Director Harold Cabreros, Mr. President, to give a short presentation also centered on the effects and our responses in Region II.
Situation in Cagayan Valley, Region II 24 of 27 Cagayan towns sank
OCD REGION II ACTING REGIONAL DIRECTOR HAROLD CABREROS:
I’m Director Harold Cabreros, the acting regional director of OCD Region II and the chairperson of the Cagayan Valley Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
And I just want to present to you our situation update in Region II. And my presentation will follow this sequence.
So for the chronology of events, may I just want to emphasize that the weather situation in Region II for the period October to November, we experienced seven weather disturbances. From the start of typhoon — Tropical Depression Ofel up to Typhoon Ulysses.
And during this time particularly during the Typhoon Quinta, we already experienced some floodings in the Western Cagayan at the downstream particularly in Sta. Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira and Pamplona.So with this situation with seven weather disturbances, may I show you a brief drone shot of what happened particularly here in Tuguegarao. So we could see a massive flooding in Cagayan Valley.
343,000 people affected
So with this massive flooding, this is the effects of Typhoon Ulysses. So there were around almost 100,000 affected population — ah affected families with 343,000 persons and there were roads and bridges that were considered not passable.
We experienced power interruptions and also we accounted damages of infrastructure and agriculture where initially the damages for agriculture is 73.7 million while for infrastructure is 39.8 million.
Now, I would like to also emphasize on the casualties that we suffered: 24 deaths wherein 14 was due to landslide, seven (7) through drowning and three (3) on electrocution.
So on the landslide, here is the area where the landslide occurred which is in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, where we recorded 10 deaths, which are in a mining area which is — they were conducting small mining operations.
And also in Baggao. The four deaths in Baggao, Cagayan is along the riverbanks. The house is along the riverbanks. So there was a soil erosion that caused the landslide and the death of four persons.
4,799 personnel deployed
So for our response actions, immediately after the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, we have deployed 4,799 personnel for search, rescue and retrieval operations.
I just want to emphasize here that the LGUs have their own search and rescue teams that conducted immediate forced evacuation and rescue operations.
For relief operations, aside from the relief operations conducted by the LGUs, our national government, through the DSWD, have already distributed family food packs and some are for distribution. And for this time, we have an ongoing relief operations.
And our DOH have been conducting health assistance, providing hygiene kits, and medicines and so on.
And for our DPWH, together with the local government that has capability for road clearing have been conducting road clearing to the different areas region-wide.
Communities isolated
So for our plan of actions, at this point in time, we continue to conduct response operations. As we have conducted an area recon, there are communities that were isolated and cannot be reached by land. So we will be conducting area resupply or relief operation to these communities. We continue to conduct our road clearing in some areas.
We also — we are ready to deploy our Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis teams. And finally, sir, we will implement our early recovery programs as — from the different departments of the government: for Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Housing Authority, and Office of Civil Defense — and also we are getting the programs of other agencies.
CAGAYAN GOVERNOR MANUEL MAMBA:
Ito na po ‘yung fifth time, Mr. President, na nagpunta kayo dito sa amin. The first time was during Typhoon Lawin, the second time was during Super Typhoon Ompong again, and twice you went to CEZA para sirain po ‘yung mga kontrabandong mga sasakyan doon. At ngayon po, ‘yung panglima na punta niyo dito.
Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa pagmamahal, sa pagmamalasakit, at sa ginagawa niyong sakripisyo para makita ang problema namin sa aming probinsiya ng Cagayan at ang rehiyon naming Region II.
We appreciate so much, Mr. President, your concern to our people. We appreciate so much your love for our people. And in response, Mr. President, we will do our best to help our people.
From Day One, Mr. President, Senator Bong Go has always been contacting me. Senator — Secretary Bebot Bello has always been there with us, and the OCD people has always been there with us. The national government did its part and its best.
Noong hindi po namin maihatid ang mga relief goods po namin, kaagad-agad po nagpadala lahat ang Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and all agencies involved. And up to now, we do relief and rescue operations even at this point in time. Despite the fact na napakahirap pong puntahan ang mga lahat ng dapat mapuntahan because as you all know, Mr. President, this is the worst flooding that we had in the last 45 years.
Last great flood was in 1975
Ang sabi po ng mga taga-Tuguegarao sa akin, the last time they had this kind of flooding was 1975. And this is the first time that we had this kind of flooding. We expected this pero grabe po itong nangyari sa amin.
And I also would like to thank you, Mr. President, for again initiating the restoration of our Cagayan River through the initiative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Secretary Cimatu started this months back, Mr. President, and I hope that we will continue doing this so because we feel na ito po siguro ‘yung talagang solusyon ng aming mga problema dito.
I have been congressman for 12 years dito. I have been also five years as governor now and seven years as mayor prior to that.
Ngayon lang po kami nagkakaroon ng pag-asa na magkaroon ng solusyon ang napakalaking problema ng aming rehiyon, lalong-lalo na ang aming probinsiya.
Ang probinsiya po namin ang labasan at lagusan po ng lahat ng tubig ng Region II to include Kalinga, Apayao, and Ifugao. Lahat po ng tubig niyan papunta po dito sa amin kaya nga po nakikita namin that this is worsening every year and we have to do something about this.
And we feel that your administration started it all by the restoration of the Cagayan River and I hope that this will go on in the immediate future because we feel na ito po ‘yung solusyon dito.
And of course, the regreening of our denuded forest of both the Sierra Madre ranges ganoon din po itong Cordillera Mountain ranges.
So again, Mr. President, thank you so much for coming over. Every time we have big problems like these, you have always been with us.
And we will forever be indebted to you and we will forever be grateful to you and your administration. Maraming, maraming salamat na naman po sa pagpunta niyo dito sa amin.
The problem is climate change, says the President PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE:
This was handed to me, a prepared speech, pero hindi ko na lang basahin.
If there’s time, I’ll read it. But, anyway, it’s all about sympathies and sharing the grief of the people over here.
Ang problema ho talaga ngayon is that whether we accept it or not, itong climate change. The warm climate boils the Pacific Ocean. There’s a lot of water vapor going upstairs and accumulating so much water, the rain, then it falls down. Talagang ang matamaan ngayon ‘yung mga populated areas nakokompormiso.
We had a virtual summit meeting, Friday, and I was very strong in my language about the people who contributed a lot to the global warming. And anong ipinakita nila sa atin na tayo, Philippines, we only have a few factories running here. We do not have that kind of — we spewed a little but not that much. And ‘pag ‘yung bumagsak na, talagang babagsak. It does not only rain of cats and dogs, it is really water pure over here.
And of course, nandito’t na lang, sabihin ko na para marinig na rin ngayon ng iba. I’ll just read it because it talks about our state of affairs now.
My solidarity and condolence[s] go out to my fellow Filipinos in Cagayan Valley, most especially to the bereaved families of the victims of the unprecedented flooding that occurred in the area in the aftermath of Typhoon Ulysses.
This strong typhoon has affected more than 97 families in Region II. We are saddened to know that 24 persons perished here, while a few others are still missing.
The damage to agriculture in Region II was around P186 million while damage to infrastructure was over P1.6 billion.
Assurance of rescue
I want to personally assure our fellowmen here that the government will continue its rescue operations until all families are saved, all casualties and missing persons have been accounted for, and all affected individuals and communities have received their needed relief and other assistance.
As of today, more than a million pesos worth of assistance was provided to Region II by the DSWD, LGUs, and non-government organizations.
We also worked to prevent the repetition of this disaster by intensifying forest protection efforts against illegal logging and mining. I expect our LGUs to do their part in this endeavor.
You know — I’ll cut short the… Itong — itong ulan na ganito o bagyo, either with winds or just water pouring from the heavens, we always talk about illegal logging and mining but actually nothing has been done about it.
Mabuti’t na lang I did not expect but I’m having a Cabinet meeting here because most of my Cabinet members are here. By the way, karamihan ng Cabinet member ko, Governor, puro Ilocano. Dalawa lang kaming Bisaya sa — ang pinakaguwapo si General Cimatu and of course ang glamour boy namin si Bello.
We were together during our law school days. Silang dalawa ni Dulay, the BIR now from Baguio; and I was in a room with Yasay, who was a fake Filipino.
God bless his soul. He died about a month ago — two months ago. Bibitawan ko talaga siya because he was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.
I also urge the LGUs to actively collaborate with the Task Force created to lead the rehabilitation efforts because your lives — including your good health, safety, and improved welfare — are the government’s highest priority.
On this note, I wish to express my gratitude to the LGUs, one, and the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other private organizations for their relentless efforts to assist the victims of Typhoon Ulysses.
Working hard to rebuild lives
To my countrymen here in Cagayan Valley, rest assured that we are working hard to rebuild your lives after these calamities. We know your anguish and we will respond with urgency.
With the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino, I am confident that, together, we will brave all the challenges ahead and emerge stronger as a nation.
God bless the Philippines.
Iyong — ang una, actually, is food. Iyon ang napag-aralan ko sa — ‘yung local official ako. Twenty-two years akong mayor so dinaanan ko lahat ng — lahat ng ano sir, lahat ng sunog, flood.
And even my daughter when she was mayor, ‘yung galing siya sa baha na maraming namatay at nag-demolish ‘yung sheriff talagang binugbog kasi dahil hindi nga naman tama eh. That was extremely in bad taste.
Ang Davao kasi malawak. On the other side, on the south side, if you had a flood, ‘yung ulan doon lang. On the downtown area, there was none at all. Pagdating sa north side, ayon ‘yung baha tapos ulan.
So ganoon kalaki ang Davao City, reputed — reputedly the biggest city in the world and I would agree. Hindi mo ma-ano na kalaki, noong umulan dito, may baha doon. It does not cover the entire place.
Now, ang guidance talaga, I got this from President Ramos, it’s not my novel idea, that after a catastrophe, whatever, fire, flood, the objective should be to return to normalcy as soon as possible.
Whether it is an explosion, so ganoon na, it was a military thinking and I adopted that word, ‘yung caveat niya noong mayor ako.
Do everything to return to normalcy
So ang atin ngayong gawain, just the same, we will do everything to return to normalcy. In the meantime, ang problema talaga sa sunog o baha is water, clean water, potable water. Kung wala, then we will send them to you even if we have to travel overnight. Then food, importante talaga to sustain them.
And sa agriculture, Secretary Dar is here so he can give you at least a purview of what the department will do. You have money to do it.
Villar can do miracles
Then sa DPWH, Secretary Villar is here, he can do miracles, actually. Secretary Villar, mind you, I said a very honest person. Wala akong kaduda-duda. Problem is ‘yung departamento na nakuha niya maraming kawatan ang p***** i**. So most of the time headline.
While labor — I do not think that — kung mayroon dito it’s not really that much. Bebot is here. He has money. I have signed so many documents of late. Bilyon-bilyon ‘yon. It’s always billion.
I have never — I never saw such papers kay — galing kay Bello nanghingi ng thousands. It’s always billions. And I think he is running for Senator. Pagbigyan na lang ninyo eh ginusto ng tao.
Then would you believe it, most of my Cabinet members are really military men and most them are Ilocanos. At one time or another, they were assigned in Mindanao, in my city and I got to know them — friends.
Si General Cimatu, he is from Ilocos Norte. He was the one I sent to Boracay to clean the beach.
But on the first day he was inspecting, his picture was there sa Bulletin and malapit ‘yung camera, you could see the eyeballs of General Cimatu, nakatingin doon sa dalawang Caucasian na ‘yung isa parang nakadapa, tinanggal ‘yung bra. So you can see the focus of General Cimatu in his work of…
Well, anyway, Boracay is already — it’s good. You can go there. It’s clean. Let us see, as I have said, it props up every now and then, I will direct here General Cimatu to look into the illegal mining, especially where the people are building their shelters downwards. Kaya ‘pag ano nang ano eh ‘di mabaon talaga sila kasi dadaan sila.
So if it is not really a possibility for them to stop, at least General Cimatu should devise a way where they can place their — mga bahay nila — well above the rolling stones if they come. Pakitingin nga, Roy, ‘yung sabi ni Governor.
Sunod si Secretary Año. He’s a general also, sa DILG. So if you need anything, tawagan mo lang. Then, si Secretary Cusi sa Energy. Na-restore na ba ang kanilang ano?
DOE SECRETARY ALFONSO CUSI:
Mayroon na po ‘yung partly Tuguegarao City. Cagayan province is serviced by two cooperatives: CAGELCO 1, composed of around 385 barangays, 27 barangays were already energized, and Tuguegarao City partly; and CAGELCO 2, awaiting activation by NGCP transmission.
They are ready to receive power but only considering the safety of the people because of the flood, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
How — how long do you think they can fix everything?
SEC. CUSI:
As soon as the water subsides and we finish the — [what
do
you
call
this?] — with the inspection, maybe in two days, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
I hope it would not take… Mahirap walang elektrisidad.
SEC. CUSI:
I agree with you, sir, and we are doing our best to immediately energize.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Si… Next to you is Lambino.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
You are doing a great job, sir, so continue.
ADMINISTRATOR LAMBINO:
Opo, sir. Sir, kanina po dala ko po ‘yung water purifier na galing po sa Office of the Civil Defense. Nagbiyahe po ako ng eroplano from Binalonan, Pangasinan, dinala ko po ‘yon.
Pinahiram po tayo ni Congressman Ramon Guico III ng Pangasinan ng kanyang eroplano para madala po ‘yung mga water purifiers dito po sa Cagayan. Kasama ko po sana si Undersecretary Ric Jalad kanina pero sa Maynila na lang po siya nanggaling.
Sa CEZA naman po, alam po ni Governor Mamba ‘yan at saka si Mayor Jeff Soriano ng Tuguegarao na lahat po ng mga nangyaring kalamidad po dito, nandiyan po kaagad po ‘yung Cagayan Economic Zone Authority na umaantabay at nagbibigay po ng mga relief items para po sa kanila.
Kaya noon pong isang araw pa po kasagsagan po ng bagyo rito, nagbigay na po ako ng instruction sa aking mga staff.
Nakapaghanda po kami ng worth 200,000 goods, immediate goods, mga water at saka food packs na itu-turnover po namin po iyan sa Office of the Provincial Governor at saka sa Office of the City Mayor of Tuguegarao.
Kung kukulangin pa po ‘yon ay pinaghahanap ko pa po ‘yung aking mga staff para po mas marami po kaming maibibigay na tulong po sa ating mga kababayan din po sa probinsiya ng Cagayan, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Okay, that’s good. That’s the spirit of an Ilocano.
ADMINISTRATOR LAMBINO:
Opo, opo sir.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Always in the service of your people. Let me revisit back to Secretary Bello. Bot, ang Isabela. Sabi may ano raw… Wala kasing ma-landingan doon eh.
DOLE SECRETARY SILVESTRE BELLO III:
Mr. President, malaki rin ang pinsala ng Typhoon Ulysses. Gusto sana ni Governor Alba na pumunta rito pero may ipinadala si Mayor Sara na mga relief goods kaya iyon ang inaasikaso niya po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
What do you need? Just the same? Just like — the situation is just like Cagayan?
SEC. BELLO:
Ah hindi — hindi gaano, Mr. President. Mas malala ang Cagayan because out of 27 towns of Cagayan, Mr. President, 24 ang lumubog eh.
Samantala ang Isabela, ang tinamaan lang, Mr. President, ‘yung northern towns. Iyong Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, and Ilagan, my hometown, Mr. President. Iyong southern hindi na masyado, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Not as much damage as in other places?
SEC. BELLO:
Yes, Mr. President. Mas malaki talaga sa Cagayan, Mr. President, kaya mas malaki ang…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
But they have the man to manage the situation there? Okay ba? Is somebody manning the fort ika nga?
SEC. BELLO:
Iyong binigay niyo sa akin, Mr. President, tamang-tama lang na ibibigay natin kay governor: Governor Mamba, Governor Albano, Governor Cua, and also Governor Padilla pero kaunti lang depere — ang ano — ang problema ng Quirino, Mr. President, maliit lang.
Maliit lang ang pinsala doon.Ang matindi talaga Cagayan and Isabela. So ‘yung pondo namin na ibinigay niyo, Mr. President, naka-focus dito sa dalawang probinsiya, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Ibuhos mo. Ubusin mo.
SEC. BELLO:
Opo, Mr. President, basta dagdagan niyo lang po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Maghanap tayo, mag-utang tayo. Palautang naman si Dominguez. How about the end of the line, si Chief PNP?
PNP CHIEF DEBOLD SINAS:
Good afternoon po, Mr. President.
The PNP po we augmented our forces here and we coordinated closely with our counterparts sa local government at saka ‘yung sa AFP, Coast Guard po, sir, sa mga rescue.
We had our 13 rubber boats and one camp platoon size na SAF na ipinadala kaagad namin kahapon at may sarili po silang van.
Naka-deploy na po sila dito at nagdagdag po kami ng apat na ambulance po, sir, galing po sa iba-ibang region kasi ‘yung nag-settle na po ‘yung nasa may NCR, Region III, at saka national headquarters so dinivert (divert) na po kaagad natin sila dito to assist them.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
But all of your assigned men, are they on the job until now?
PNP CHIEF SINAS:
Dito sir sa Region II sir may affected po kaming personnel dito. Ang last count po sir is 745. We already assisted them, sir.
Ang lahat ng pinagkuwan namin they assisted and they’re bringing them to — some to our camp, some to their relatives ho sir. So continuing dito ‘yung assistance namin both sa civilian sector at saka sa sarili naming mga tauhan, sir.
P2 billion damage to agriculture
DA SECRETARY WILLIAM DAR:
Dito po sa Region II, simula pa noong Bagyong Pepito, Rolly, Quinta, Rolly, at now Ulysses, ang value na po ng damage sa agrikultura ay P2 billion.
Pero dito ngayon po ay nakahanda naman ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka. Tamang-tama po ‘yung paghahanda po namin for dry season planting. Ito na sana Nobyembre last two weeks at hangga’t Disyembre. Mabuti na lang hindi po namin pa naibigay po lahat doon sa mga probinsiya.
So ngayong araw, Mr. President, ay mayroon tayong ibibigay dito sa Region II, let me mention, itong ‘yung agricultural inputs na gagamitin na sa pagtatanim itong Disyembre na.
Kagaya po ng hybrid rice seeds, inbred rice seeds, fertilizers, hybrid corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, seedling trays, potting media, poultry, goats, and ducks.
So dito po sa Cagayan po, mayroon tayong certificate of award na ibibigay po ngayon kay Governor Mamba. Ang value po ng ating ibibigay na rehabilitasyon na ng agrikultura ay 846 million pesos.
Sa Isabela naman po, apektado mas lalo sila noong Quinta at Rolly so ang value ng ating ibibigay ngayong araw ay 986 million for Isabela.
For Nueva Vizcaya po, 148 million — ready na po ‘yung certificate of award.
And for Quirino, 96 million po. So a total of P2,078,000,000, dadagdagan pa po natin ng donasyon na bigas na under the National Food Authority’s — nag-decide po ‘yung council ng NFA na mag-donate po tayo dito sa Cagayan ng 14,500 bags equivalent to 18 million pesos.
Doon sa Isabela, mag-do-donate rin tayo ng 18,500 bags to 23 million pesos. So 41 million po ay galing po sa National Food Authority. So suma — the summary would be, Mr. President, we are giving out today all these agricultural inputs plus the rice as our ayuda dito sa Region II, 2.2 billion pesos po, Mr. President. Maraming salamat po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
I’m — I am overwhelmed, I am happy. Si Del naman, the Secretary of Defense.
DND SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA:
Thank you, Mr. President. Susugan ko lang iyong report kanina ni — ni General Harold Cabreros. Sinabi niyang buong command ng AFP dito ay nandito na sa Cagayan Valley. I think there is one division at pati iyong mga nasa NOLCOM ngayon nandito si General Burgos. Nandito ba si ano? Tayo, tayo, tayo ka. Is the commander of the Northern Luzon Command and the 5th Division Commander, ito, oo, plus iyong mga Air Force natin nandito.
Ito po iyong dagdag na assets natin dito sa — sa Cagayan Valley. Iyong sa air assets, mayrooon tayong limang helicopters, mayroon tayong dalawang C-295 na medium lift transport at saka isang C-130. Iyon hong ating dagdag na disaster response teams, 22 teams from the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force already deployed in the area.
Mayroon pang limang teams na paparating pa lang po, Mr. President. And for reserve, DRTs or disaster response teams na nasa Army pa saka Philippine Navy na puwede na nilang i-transport dito kung kailangan pa.
Ang ibang assets po natin dito — ibang assets ay labing-limang rubber boats na sa tingin ko ay ginagamit pa hanggang ngayon kahit na humupa na iyong baha.
Pitong trucks at saka iyong mga equipment na nandito na, na hawak ng 5th Division. Then one air traffic controller team is en route to Tuguegarao to augment iyong air traffic controller ng Tuguegarao Airport. Iyon lang po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Very good. Art, ano bang nasira dito, taga rito ka. Are you from here really?
DOTR SECRETARY ARTHUR TUGADE:
Yes, sir. I’m here, sir.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Saan?
SEC. TUGADE:
Claveria, sir. It’s flooded.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Saan? Nasaan iyong bahay ninyo?
SEC. TUGADE:
Sa Claveria ho. One of the small municipalities in Cagayan after Ilocos. Right now, it’s flooded. It has sustained a lot of damage.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
You have to go there. Usually ang ano niyan, Art, is a — you might want to go there being from there na nandito man sila ano, you can divert some iyong pagkain pati tubig.
Usually ang kailangan ng tao pagka ganoon, tubig pati pagkain at a shelter that will make a provisional house. So medyo marami ka man niyan siguro. You can…
Anyway, use the money of your department. Ako na ang mag-ano — ako ng bahala.
SEC. TUGADE:
Opo, Mr. Mayor-President. In fact, I was talking with Secretary Bebot Bello this morning, mag-re-relief operation ho kami within this week na ang concentration ko po iyong tubig at pagkain.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Go ahead.
SEC. TUGADE:
Magko-coordinate po ako kay Governor Mamba saka kay Mayor Soriano at ng mga ibang mga lugar dito sa Cagayan upang ng sa ganoon makatulong ako sa pagdi-distribute ng mga relief goods, Mr. Mayor-President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Well, in the coming days, it should be an improvement or the repair or a rehabilitation of their house/home.
But in the meantime, ang kailangan nila and it must be sustained, iyong pagkain pati tubig. Iyon talaga ang kailangan nila.
SEC. TUGADE:
Yes, sir, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Okay, sige.
Tugade blames tree cutting, vows to dredge Cagayan River
SEC. TUGADE:
Idagdag ko lang po, kanina po, maaga ho kaming dumating nila Secretary Bebot Bello, nagkaroon kami ng panahon umikot. Nakipagpulong kami at umikot kami sa lugar at nakita ko ho naman iyong pagbaba nung baha.
Sabihin ko lang po na wala hong damage sa airport, walang mini — minimal damage sa mga pantalan, sa mga opisina ng LTO at LTFRB wala hong na-sustain na major damages, okay naman po.
Ang nangunguna ho sa operation ng Department of Transportation, ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon dito sa Cagayan, iyong Philippine Coast Guard po na kung saan talagang wala hong tulong — walang tulog, sige-sige lang ang trabaho.
Iyong Philippine Coast Guard ho sa report kanina sa akin, naitala nila na nagkaroon sila ng rescue na mga 390 people sa dalawang araw na nag-operate sila.
Kahapon ho, mayroon silang ni-retrieve na dalawang tao nakuryente, patay ho. Kagagawan — tumulong ho diyan iyong Philippine Coast Guard, kasama na ho diyan iyong pagpadala ni Commandant Orsabia ng mga floaters, life boat, saka iyong truck with boom.
Ginamit na rin po namin iyong chopper ng Philippine Coast Guard nang sa ganoon makatulong kami sa rescue and relief operation.
Sabihin ko na lang po sa aming pagpupulong kanina na nakita ko iyong nakakalbo iyong kagubatan at talaga hong nag-overflow iyong sa Buntun Bridge, iyong Cagayan River. Mapapakita ho dito ang dalawang pangangailangan. Number one ho, iyong itigil iyong pagputol ng puno dito. Iyong Reforestation Program kailangan ho ituloy iyon. Pangalawa, iyong tinatawag na dredging sa Cagayan River.
Kung hindi ho magagawa iyang dalawa na iyan, paulit-ulit ho mangyayari iyong pagbaha dito. Kaya in the medium term, kailangan ho talagang buhos ang trabaho diyan sa dredging at saka sa reforestation.
Franchise holders will be required to plant trees
Let me be very simplistic if I may, Mr. Mayor- President, kanina sa usapan namin in discussing the reforestation, na-rekomenda ng isang RD ko sa LTFRB, sabi sa akin, “Sir, bakit hindi nating gawing proseso na ‘pag mayroong kumuha ng prangkisa iyong kooperatiba or prangkisa iyong mga individual, part of the responsibility is to plant trees.” Kung may kooperatiba ka diyan, ili-limit — minimum ho diyan 500 trees kada prangkisa na ibibigay ko sa iyo.
Kung gagawin ho namin iyan, iyong pagtatanim ng puno doon sa pag-isyu ng prangkisa o mga lisensya, ay marami ho tayong matatamnan. So I will be coordinating very closely with Secretary Roy Cimatu kung saan ia-identify nila iyong mga lugar na kung saan puwedeng taniman. Kaya nga kung kukuha sila ng prangkisa sa akin, I will make this nationwide, part of the responsibility is really to plant trees.
Imaginin ninyo ho, Mr. President, kung ang lahat ng opisina sa gobyerno, part of the responsibilities in getting license is to plant trees at designated areas, plantable areas chosen by the local government and the Department of Natural Resources, makakatulong ho tayo dito. Umikot ka diyan, sayang iyan, makakati mo kalbo-kalbo na lahat iyong mga kuwan diyan…
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
I got lost there somewhere. Franchise to operate a public utility — public utility ano…?
SEC. TUGADE:
Yes, sir. Iyong mga kooperatiba, bigyan kita prangkisa, mag-operate ka. Effective nito magtanim ka 500 trees. Then iyong mga kukuha ng mga new licenses, pagtanimin ko iyan ng sampung puno, you know, at designated area, it becomes a matter of created responsibility and obligation. Then, we can address, in our own way, that system.
Pangalawa ho on — puwede ko nang sabihin, Secretary Bebot Bello, napag-usapan ho namin ni Secretary Bebot Bello, low-lying fruit, before the end of this year, we will be donating 100 fiberglass boat — fishing boats doon sa coastal areas nang sa ganoon, kasi tinamaan ho talaga iyan eh.
Ngayon, ‘pag fiberglass ho iyan, hindi lahang ho governor magagamit iyan pang fishing, pati sa rescue operation din ‘pag nagbaha-baha diyan, importante fiberglass.
Nag-usap ho kami ni Secretary Bebot diyan at magtutulungan kami na before the end of this year, Secretary Bebot, naka-position tayo ng 100.
Iyon ho ‘yung mga usapan namin. So basically, iyon po ‘yon, Mr. Mayor- President. Ito ho ‘yung estado at gagawin ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Maraming pera kayong dalawa ni Bebot. Marami kayong reserve na pera? Where do you get the money to buy all those fiberglass?
SEC. BELLO:
Marami rin, Mr. President. Kaya lang kahapon nandoon din ako sa Region V, Mr. President.
Pumunta kami sa Catanduanes at saka sa Albay and then by next Thursday, pupunta po ako sa Camarines Sur dahil may commitment po tayo doon.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Ah… Bumalik sa isip ko rin. There was this delivery supposedly by the Department of Labor in Cagayan de Oro. It’s in Mindanao. Iyong bangka nila walang katig.
SEC. BELLO:
Mayroon na, Mr. President. Mayroon na po. Actually, ang commitment namin, 10. Kaya lang nagkaroon ng delivery ng 17, iyong 20 tatlo ang walang katig, Mr. President, pero ilalagay na po nila.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Ang nag-reklamo iyong… [laughter] Tinawagan ka ba niya?
SEC. BELLO:
Tinawagan po ako, Mr. President. Okay na po.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Ah okay.
SEC. BELLO:
Tsaka dinagdagan ko naman ng Nego-Kart, Mr. President. Twenty na Nego-Kart.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes, sir?
Illegal mining blamed
GOV. MAMBA:
Sir, could I also suggest ‘no aside from dredging and reforestation, the conversion of mountainous and forest areas into corn areas. I think very rampant po ngayon ito. Pati mga mountains po ginawa nilang mga corn lot. I think this has to stop.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Iyong… Ang importante ‘yung control ng mining kasi pagka may — it loosens the… Pagka butas maraming butas, maraming tubig pumapasok sa loob ng lupa. That’s why pagka ano landslide. It loosens the soil.
So kung ‘yang mining maraming butas, iyan ang anuhin mo. I-control mo. You might want… Well, because it’s the job of CENRO. I-ano mo na lang, Roy, mag-inventory ka na lang kasi sigurado ‘yan pagka marami ng butas, maraming tubig papasok sa ilalim ng lupa, then it loosens the soil. Kaya…
SEC. CIMATU:
My response dito, three things, sir. First is the mining; second is the planting; and the third is the dredging, sir.
I listened to the briefing and there was these casualties coming from landslide. And true enough, Mr. President, I have a map with me — the hazard maps that we used. And if you compare what happened versus the map that we prepared for the hazard, exactly the same.
So the map that we distributed to the municipal mayors and everything jibed with what happened. Meaning, nagkatotoo — landslide and the flooding. And I was informed that there were 10 casualties namatay sa landslide because dito sila sa mining area.
There’s no mining area given permit, sir. In fact there is no ano doon except the small scale mining — this illegal one. So illegal mining po itong mga lugar ‘yung namatay. So we have filed cases already and cease and desist order for these crooked people.
So na-ano na ito, na-address na po natin. Now on the dredging, Mr. President, tamang-tamang ho kayo ‘yung sinabi niyo that climate change really is the warming of the ocean.
Being the chairman of the Cabinet cluster on climate change, ako po ‘yon. So really — we are really very particular about the effect of this climate change. And it happened now in Ulysses. It is a manifestation really that ang climate change talaga ay talagang ma — hindi na natin ma-avoid ito.
It’s given na and it will become stronger and stronger as the… Tama ho kayo sinabi mo, Mr. President, that nakikita natin sa climate change na very visible ‘yung the typhoon is stronger now compared to when we were young.
Cimatu notes typhoons getting more powerful
When we were young, wala pa ang typhoon signal number 3 lang po tayo noon, pinakamataas noon eh, iyong pinakama-ano noon. Pero ngayon, umaabot na ng 200 to 300 kilometers per hour na eh. Noon hanggang 80 kilometers per hour lang po noon when we were younger, Mr. President.
Pangalawa po, the volume of rains that coming down — the volume of rain ngayon is talagang ano na — mas marami kaysa ‘yung patak ng ulan noon nung ano. Lumakas ang volume kaya ‘yung rain na bumagsak dito sa Region II total po mula Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, at saka kung ano diyan — Isabela, nagsama-sama po from the 18 rivers na bumaba. And the water catchment area is the Cagayan River. Ito lang po ang outlet ng tubig na pumasok dito.
So pina-compute ko, sir, I was talking to my geologist kanina that the volume of water na bumagsak is more than the capacity or capability of the Cagayan River. Napuno na ‘yung Cagayan River, marami pang naiwan na bumagsak; and that was the result of the flooding.
So it happened several years before, Mr. President, that this really — this area is really very prone to flooding. Given na po ‘yan mula noong panahon pa ng Español.
Lady of Piat saved people from drowning
Panahon pa nung mayroong tinatawag dito, Mr. President, na miraculous eh. Iyong Lady of Piat. Medyo well-known na ano ‘yon eh, miraculous ‘yan. And the miracle of the Virgin Mary raw was — the Virgin Mary saved a lot people from flooding in that town of Piat. Iyong tabi ng Cagayan River po ‘yon eh.
So talagang ano na ho, historical na ito. Panahon ng Español. Nilipat naman ‘yung ano — ‘yung town of Lal-lo, used to be the northernmost part of the Spanish. Nilipat po dahil na-ano rin sila rito eh, nabiktima rin sila so dinala sa Vigan. So these are the historical ano rito.
Pangatlo po, in 1972, nagkaroon rin the same kalakas ulit ngayon dito and nakita in 1970s, there was no Magat River yet at that — Magat Dam at that time yet. So talagang even without the Magat, with the Magat, talagang the water talaga dumating ‘yan.
So tuloy-tuloy po ito. Then what should we do? I think the only thing that we can do is to improve the — as of now, Mr. President, improve the volume of water na ma-accomodate diyan sa Cagayan River.
There was this JICA study po. And this was I think ano ‘yan but it was not implemented, it was not implemented. Meaning, there is a bottleneck in one of these areas in Mabi… [Officials: Magapit.] Magapit River.
Bottleneck
But ito ‘yung pinaka-bottleneck eh. Kaya noong naga-ano ng tubig dito ng volume, na-slow down ang flow to the dagat na bumaha, umakyat. Ang upstream ng dam, [garbled] to Tuguegarao and other towns kaya umangat po ng ano because of that bottleneck.
Now, unfortunately, Mr. President, that bottleneck, doon kinonekta ‘yung river — ah bridge. Nandoon na po ‘yung bridge. So kung i-widen natin ‘yan, which is the prescription yata ng JICA, is to widen that portion na bottleneck. Meaning, kung ginawa mo naman ‘yan, mawawala na ‘yung bridge.
So these are the dilemma that they were not able to implement, Mr. President. But I think we can do some engineering interventions po rito. I was talking to a geologist kanina, I told him to report to Manila para pag-usapan what will be the remedy of that.
If we can — if we don’t touch the width of the river, laliman lang natin ‘yon, dredge it para ‘yung volume of the total volume ay it will just be the same as widening it. So that is one probably pag-uusapan namin ni Governor, Mr. President.
In fact, Mr. President, we are about to start there — about to start the dredging of the mouth of the river, Cagayan River. And I approved it. I approved the request of the Governor of a 30- kilometer dredging from the mouth of the river, upstream and that will really help a lot, Mr. President.
And the other one is that dredging will be no cost on the part of the government. It will be really a request of the Governor to allow a contractor to clean or dredge the river.
And at the same time, in — in exchange of that, he is allowed to sell this ano — this sand. But they have to pay as what the mining company is paying, four percent excise tax as a revenue of the government.
Sir ito po ‘yung intervention na nakikita ko na we can already start with the Governor. I think we have to already — complete already the documentation so that they can start already the dredging of that mouth of the river which is in Aparri.
So these are the things that we can do now, Mr. President. And if we have to study if what will be — what will be the solution of that because whether we like it or not the flooding will again come, Mr. President. That’s the — iyan lang ang nakikita ko engineering intervention that we can do.
Tree planting
And pangatlo po, the tree planting. We were talking with General Año a while ago. In the National Greening Program we are concentrating sa taas pero ‘yung mga kalbo-kalbo dito sa baba po, private properties and so forth and so on.
So we are talking about why not — why will not involve the local government and other citizens to plant trees already here at the lowland? Katulad dito sa atin. So we are talking with General Año if we can come up with an agreement to — ‘yung sinasabi nga ni ano raw sabi ni… We can plant 200 million trees kaagad ‘yon, Mr. President.
So that will address all the three that were presented here, Mr. President.
And I think if we can do this we can already make a difference, Mr. President, kasi nobody touched this because it is really a difficult and this is an impossible one.
But I think we can do this, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Go for it. Go for it. I will support you and shorten the process of the papers.
SEC. CIMATU:
Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
We are — actually we are losing time. It’s not because I really want to do it all but something we will leave behind na may ginawa. Ito ‘yung iyo, go for it and I will support you all the way.
Dar wants fruit trees planted
SEC. DAR:
Can I strongly support the tree planting much more in upland areas that can be also be planted with native fruit trees. Huwag lang lahat kahoy po, Mr. President, kasi mas aalagaan po ng mamamayan kung it‘s a mixture of forest trees and native fruit trees. Iyon po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Well, that’s a good idea. Yeah. Yes, Secretary Cusi.
SEC. CUSI:
In relation, Mr. President, to the climate change problem that you have mentioned earlier, I agree with you that we are the least contributor on carbon emission.
And we are a victim rather than a contributor. And for that reason that we are asking for climate justice.
On the last Rolly — Typhoon Rolly, what we did — because this has been happening and we — Philippines has been suffering and I wrote the Climate Change Commission asking for compensation on the electrical facilities that were damaged.
We are testing it. I mean it’s a test because as you have said that we are the least contributor, we are a victim, and we want climate — climate justice, Mr. President.
Now, in relation to the tree planting, I agree with the tree planting, Mr. President. The transportation must already require all transport vehicles or operators to plant tree equivalent to on a per consumption or per type of engines or amount of capacity that they are operating.
In the same way that we do that in — in energy, Mr. President. Just to let everybody know about this Magat. The Magat that is operated by NIA under the DA and which uses the water that is being released for electricity generation.
So in that Magat area, the project that we have agreed with the operator is to plant the fruit-bearing trees, the vegetables that can be supplied to the community.
That has started and that the beneficiary is the — what do you call? The Rizal — Municipality of Rizal in Isabela. Although, in small scale ‘yan.
Upstream dam above Magat
But there — in this flooding, Mr. President, Mr. Mayor, what General Cimatu mentioned about the control of the water is true. I agree with that.
And there has been a long-term solution that we need to do and this has been already — we have declared it already as a project of national significance. And that is putting an upstream dam ahead of — of Magat to control the water.
And by doing so, that will again produce electricity –around 140 to 280 (megawats) depending on how it is done. So the engineering solution is there. We already — we already issued the project, the permit, certificate of project of national significance of what it can do to control the flooding.
The LGUs have approved it. Unfortunately, I met with the NCIP and the problems are the permits from the IPs, Mr. President.
So if we do that, I think that — that can be done as a long-term solution to control or minimize the flooding in the province.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Since — since you are doing it, do it.
SEC. CUSI:
I’ll do — I’ll do it.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Brasuhin mo.
SEC. CUSI:
Okay, I’ll do it, Mr. President. Thank you.
Filipinos to plant one tree every six months
DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO:
Mr. President, tungkol po doon sa tree planting may plano na po kami ni Secretary Cimatu kasama ‘yung DepEd, CHED. Kasi po noong araw nare-remember ko sa mga eskwelahan, ‘yung mga bata bago mag-graduate ‘yan required po ‘yang magtanim ng puno.
Iyong mga teacher ini-inspect pa mismo ‘yung mga bahay. So we are 110 million Filipinos, kung we can plant 100 million per every six months, that’s 200 million a year. So nagpaplano po kami, we can start in January.
Dam water releases
Pangalawa po, isang concern po nung ating mga mayors ito pong pagpapakawala ng tubig sa dam. It’s unfortunate na sa loob ng apat na linggo anim pong bagyo ang dumating sa atin. Si Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, Tonyo, Siony, at ang pinakahuli po ay Ulysses, bukod pa doon sa cold front at tropical depression.
So talaga pong parang ang — ang lupa ay talagang na-saturate ng tubig. Nadagdagan pa po ito nung pagpapalabas ng mga tubig sa dam.
Anim na dam ang nagbukas ng tubig at ito’y nakadagdag sa pagbaha. So may kanya-kanya pong protocol ‘yung mga dam paano pag-release at iba-iba ang may-ari diyan ano. Mayroon sa NIA, mayroon sa Napocor, mayroon ding mga private katulad ng Aboitiz.
I think we will propose na in terms of calamities sa typhoon dapat po ay may nagko-control diyan kung sino, kailan bubuksan ‘yung dam.
Kasi dapat before the bagyo puwede na po tayong mag — magbukas, lalo na kung mayroon tayong forecast kung gaano kalaki ‘yung ulan na darating.
I will propose po na pag-usapan namin sa NDRRMC na sa time ng calamity sa typhoon, ito po ang NDRRMC ang magbibigay ng approval kung kailan puwedeng magbukas, ilang gate, para po control natin kasi ‘yan ang sinasabi ng ating mga LGUs katulad sa Region IV-A, Region III at saka NCR na nakadagdag talaga ng pagbaha ang pagbubukas ng dam.
Health restrictions to be lifted
Tapos ngayon pong pandemic mayroon tayong — ngayon pong calamities, mayroon pa rin tayong pandemic pero nagbigay kami ng advisory sa mga LGU, sa mga hard-hit areas na puwede pong i-lift muna ‘yung restriction sa health protocol para sa mga rescue, relief at recovery teams na pupunta at magdadala ng mga relief goods katulad sa Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, dito po sa Isabela at saka sa Cagayan provided mayroon po silang coordination sa LGU at sa RIATF at sa OCD. So ‘yun lang po, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
… Ed, ilan ba talaga ang nawalaan ng bahay? Have you — is there a — a count of the houses totally lost, beyond repair?
HUDCC SEC. EDUARDO DEL ROSARIO:
Mr. President, here in Region II, I was talking to Governor Mamba earlier kung mayroon ng bilang ‘yung mga partially and totally damaged in Region II.
And I was told na wala pa po, Mr. President, dahil nakalubog pa ‘yung mga bahay wala pang assessment silang nagagawa.
We will be creating an inter-agency team para mag-conduct sila ng assessment to be led by the Office of Civil Defense, kasama po rito ang Department of Human Settlement, ang National Housing Authority, and DSWD para malaman ‘yung particular houses and owners na bibigyan natin ng financial assistance.
Ang programa po natin 5,000 to 10,000 depending on the gravity of the damages. Iyong partially damaged bibigyan po ng 5,000, iyong severe or totally damaged binibigyan natin ng 10,000.
This will come in, Mr. President, pagkatapos ng ‘yung food and water needs nila, ‘yung relief assistance. So this will be a continuing activity after the provisions of food and water, the housing sector will come in for the relief assistance in terms of housing assistance. This will be given in cash, Mr. President, para immediately ‘yung mga nasirang mga bahay ay maayos kaagad.
More houses damaged in Bicol than in Cagayan
Here in Region II, we don’t expect so much damages because this is caused by floodings. Ang mas grabe, sir, ‘yung sa Region V dahil ang damages to housing ay because of strong wind. So sa pagbaha, sir, pagtapos ng tubig, very minimal ang magiging damages sa mga houses.
Now, we can see from the briefing, Mr. President, na may mga namatay dahil nakatira sila sa along the river basin.
Ang to complement ‘yung ating desire na magtanim at mag-dredging, ang kailangan po dito natin ‘yung enforcement ng resettlement for highly susceptible flooded areas. Tatlo po ang category ng mga lupa natin, highly, moderate at less susceptible.
We will coordinate directly with the LGUs to identify the highly susceptible areas prone to floodings para makapag-enforce po tayo ng resettlement para ma-resettle sila in coordination with the LGU sa safe areas. Kasi kapag hindi po natin ginawa ‘yon, Mr. President, continuous ang problema natin na ang ating mga kababayan namamatay, nalulunod, because they are living in danger areas.
So we will coordinate directly with the LGUs para ‘yung highly susceptible to floodings mai-resettle na as early as possible. Of course, this will be a mid-term implementation but that is the direction that the housing sector must undertake in coordination with the local government units, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
You have the money?
SEC. DEL ROSARIO:
We will be assessing for that, Mr. President, and we will be requesting for money so that ‘yung National Housing Authority can implement the resettlement program, Mr. President.
PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON HARRY ROQUE:
Ire-report ko lang po, sir, na kada bagyong dumating ay nagkakaroon po tayo ng special presidential news briefing at nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng mga miyembro ng ating Gabinete dahil kahit Linggo po dalawang special press briefing na ‘yung ginawa natin ng Linggo, lahat po sila ay dumadalo para masabi po sa taong-bayan kung ano ang ginagawa po ng gobyerno para tulungan ang ating mga taong-bayan.
At nakita rin po natin na doon sa ating mga special presidential press briefing nagiging tulay din po ‘yon ‘no para mai-bridge kung ano ‘yung mga pangangailangan ng mga naging biktima ng mga bagyo doon sa mga departamento na makapagbibigay ng serbisyo.
At kasama po ang PCOO, ang PNA, ang PTV-4, ang RTVM ay patuloy po ang pagbibigay natin ng impormasyon lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga ginagawa ng gobyerno para labanan po ‘yung napakaraming fake news na kumakalat sa panahon po ng kalamidad.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE:
Well, I think that we have heard the last except that I would like to congratulate General Jalad for a job well done.
As in the other, you know how to — hindi nga nila alam, hindi nga alam ng mga tao na long before the Typhoon or the whatever is coming, naka-position, naka-deploy na ‘yung mga pagkain.
So automatic na ‘yan and in many instances, it’s always General Jalad who is the first to be there. So thank you for doing it for your countrymen and I salute you sa trabaho mo.
Magaling. I was mo — nagmo-monitor ako. But I was also attending the — when I was attending the summit, lumalabas ako just to know how things are.
So okay naman siguro, as long as we comply with our commitment dito. Just do what you plan to do. Do it, do not delay it because, I said, itong mga bahay, pagkain, lalo na pagkain, General Jalad, tubig pati pagkain.
Then ang — the next na pumapasok diyan ang ano na — ang — sila na, sa housing.
We would always appreciate the cooperation of the local government units, sir. Salamat but you heard what these guys are doing and what they intend to do moving forward. Tulungan mo lang.
In other areas, ‘yung convincing the people to move to a place where there is not — it’s not prone to flooding. That’s the only way that we can erase agony every time when there is a typhoon over here.
Pero lahat nakapuwesto naman and we have prepared for it. May pera ‘yan sila, lahat-lahat na departamento.
So, sir, hindi na ako magtagal. I have to go to — I have to fly to — ganito rin sa Legazpi. Naga ta? Hindi ta sa Legazpi? Okay. Sinabi ninyo eh. Nandoon si — si Leni, taga doon ‘yon. Mag-courtesy call tayo sa kanya.
Thank you very much everybody.
