President Rodrigo Roa Duterte listens as Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar provides updates on the Department's mitigation efforts of Typhoon Rolly prior to his talk to the people at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse on November 2, 2020. ALBERTO ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Philippine’s President Rodrigo Roa Duterte listens as Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar provides updates on the Department’s mitigation efforts of Typhoon Rolly prior to his talk to the people at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse on November 2, 2020. ALBERTO ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Manila: The Philippine government resorted to mobilizing resources to assist affected population and localities while initial assessment of damages brought about by typhoon Rolly was on-going.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte convenes members of his Cabinet to assess the extent of Typhoon Rolly’s damage as well as discuss the response and relief efforts of concerned government agencies at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse on November 2, 2020.
In a press briefing at the headquarters of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the NDRRMC Executive Director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said that based on initial reports and assessments, typhoon Rolly had affected 372,653 families composed of 2,068,085 individuals in 12 affected regions. There were also 10 deaths and 1 injury that were initially reported to the NDRRMC. Jalad also mentioned that there are 5,404 schools that were used as evacuation centers in the regions affected.
President Duterte instructed his Cabinet members to immediately provide assistance to affected individuals and local government units (LGUs) amid Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), which is touted as the strongest typhoon in the world so far in 2020. The Palace official said that the President had asked members of the Cabinet to be on call, especially those from departments that will be directly involved in providing assistance to those who will be affected by the typhoon.
In a press briefing on November 2, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr. expressed gratitude to the Filipino people for cooperating in the government’s pre-disaster efforts and government workers for their services rendered to affected families and individuals.
Earkuer, undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, NDRRMC Executive Director, had also estimated 19.8 million people to be exposed to the typhoon in 12 regions of the country namely, Regions 1,2,3,4A, 4B, 5,6,7,8,9, CAR, and NCR.Usec. Jalad said that some 96,543 families composed of 346,993 individuals that had been affected were already preemptively evacuated. Those who had been preemptively evacuated were from regions 3, 5, 8, NCR, CAR, and CALABARZON.
Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reminded LGU officials to assign safety officers in evacuation centers and limit the number of people in evacuation areas if possible, in light of the COVID-19 situation.
On the part of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Undersecretary Felicisimo Budiongan affirmed that the department had standby funds and stockpiles worth 884 million that includes stockpiles like family food packs, other food items, and non-food items. Usec. Budiongan said that the DSWD and all its quick response teams in field and central offices are on standby and on-call and are ready to provide augmentation with LGUs.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, together with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gilbert Gapay, assured that military troops and assets are on standby for any eventualities. Philippine National Police Chief Camilo Cascolan gave the same assurances saying the police have been deployed in evacuation areas.
On the part of LGUs, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said that LGU executives were monitoring the typhoon and the situation in their own localities and were supervising response activities.
In Geneva, World Health Organisation Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told mediapersons that WHO had been following closely the situation with Typhoon Goni in the Philippines. “This is the strongest storm of 2020 and WHO will work with the government to ensure emergency medical care is reaching those that need it,” he said.
“The Philippine government continues to mobilize resources to assist affected population and localities while initial assessment of damages brought about by typhoon Rolly is on-going,” the Philippines government stated.
– globalbihari bureau
