PGMA orders Cabinet members, gov’t agencies to speed-up relief and rehabilitation of
typhoon victims
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains hands-on in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of victims of tropical
storm “Ondoy.”
In today’s cabinet meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) office at Camp Aguinaldo, the
Chief Executive received an update by her cabinet members on the progress of the rescue, relief and
rehabilitation/restoration operations as a result of the devastation caused by typhoon Ondoy. .
The President issued several directives to ensure the security, health, sanitation and cleanliness in the typhoon–
stricken areas and to help typhoon victims go back to normal life.
It was noted that within the more than 600 evacuation centers, there is a strong possibility that health and
sanitation problems will occur. Thus, the President ordered the Department of Health to lead in this endeavor by
providing adequate health services.
The President also ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to mobilize barangay
officials to look after the cleanliness of the evacuation centers in their area of responsibility.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque volunteered to hire 500 persons under the President’s Comprehensive
Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to help in the clean –up of evacuation centers,
waterways and drainage systems.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Emmanuel Angeles called on medical schools to deploy their
nursing and medical students to help.
He said ROTC cadets and students taking up the National Service Training Program (NSTP) will be deployed to
help in the clean-up of streets and schools.
President Arroyo is also set to issue an executive order that will declare a “Clean –up Day” within the week so
everyone can help in the clean-up operations. This will be a non-working holiday.
The President also ordered the Philippine National Police to deploy personnel in abandoned areas to avoid
looters from taking advantage of the situation.
Noting that many vehicles were damaged by the typhoon, the President ordered Trade Secretary Peter Favila to
make representations with car companies, repair /service shops not to take advantage of the situation to
increase their prices.
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Free calls in Palace launched as part of gov’t relief efforts
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The government has put up a Libreng Tawag center in Malacanang this morning for those who wish to get in
touch with relatives following the devastation of tropical storm Ondoy.
The free phone calls center, which was activated at 9 a.m., is part of the Oplan Sagip Bayan. It was set up by the
National telecommunications Commission.
Housed in Malacanang Palace on instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Oplan Sagip Bayan is now
appealing for food, clothing and donations for distribution to victims.
Donations may be sent to the Kalayaan hall of Malacanang, c/o Assistant Secretary Willy Oca of the Presidential
Management Staff, tel. 732-2192 and 734-2192, mobile 0917 5242217 and 0917 5823194.
Among the early donations were two truckloads of water and noodles from the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry as well as 200 boxes of relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
Earlier, the Government Service Insurance System, through its chairman Winston Garcia, has announced that
effective Thursday, Oct. 1, it will release emergency loans of P20,000 to all members in declared calamity areas.
The President had earlier ordered the opening of Malacanang as a center for relief and rescue operations, the
receipt and distribution of charitable donations and the temporary relocation of families who were displaced or
made homeless by the storm.
The President’s daughter, Evangeline Lourdes, and the other female members of the First Family are very much
involved in the relief operations.
President Arroyo had moved to the Bahay Pangarap at the Malacanang Park across the Pasig to give way to the
relief operations. She presided over the joint national Disaster Coordinating Council and 34th cabinet meeting
this morning.
The Chief executive said the government will continue rescue operations “until the last of our countrymen in peril
is accounted for.”
“Then we will repair our damaged infrastructure and assist our people in rebuilding their homes and returning
to normalcy,” she said in a statement.
The President described Ondoy as a once in a lifetime typhoon, “an extreme event whose record rainfall
strained our response capabilities to the limit.”
The President has directed the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure a steady supply of foodstuffs and
other essentials at reasonable prices to consumers. She also ordered the Department of Energy to secure
availability of gasoline, Liquefied petroleum Gas (LPG) and similar products under normal terms.
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Filipino bayanihan spirit surfaces in aftermath of Ondoy
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In times of calamities, the Filipino bayanihan spirit never fails to surface. You can see it everywhere. In the
places devastated by tropical storm Ondoy, people take it upon themselves to conduct rescue and relief
operations spontaneously.
At the national relief operations center in Malacanang, this spirit is very much alive.
More than 140 individuals from all walks of life have volunteered their services to the government’s Oplan Sagip
Bayan, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has mobilized to provide relief and temporary shelter for
families displaced or made homeless by the storm.
Relocated families have been sheltered in all available premises within the palace buildings as well in tents set
up in the palace grounds. While others availed of the donated goods, some were busy placing calls at the free
call center set up by the National Telecommunications Commission at the palace grounds.
The Presidential Family, headed by Evangeline Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, Camarines Sur Representative
Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo and wife Victoria “Kakai” Arroyo have joined the volunteers in packing the relief
goods to be distributed to affected areas.
The Presidential family blended well in the volunteer crowd where they themselves packed the goods and
carried the boxes to be distributed. Bernas, wearing only plain clothes, even refused to get help from
Malacanang employees while carrying big boxes of relief goods.
Presidential Management Staff Head Secretary Hermogenes Esperon oversees the Oplan Sagip Bayan along
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
One of the volunteers, religion teacher Edith David, who is also a Kagawad in the 4th District of Manila, decided
to volunteer her services
because she wanted to extend her help while waiting for her classes to start.
“I feel so happy to be part of this relief goods operations. Dito walang mayaman, walang mahirap, (Here, there
is no rich nor poor) we all came together to help the victims. I feel so happy to help, to be part of this worthwhile
endeavor,” she added.
Inside the Kalayaan Hall, soldiers can be seen packing relief items with members of the non-government
organizations, wives of the Presidential Security Group, students, government employees and other private
individuals. Despite their busy work as volunteers, they still have time to laugh, mingle and get to know each
other. Their common denominator, which is to be part of the heroic effort to provide relief, boosts their energy to
work for hours.
Thirty-three year old Jerry Seso, a private individual awaiting for his work as seafarer, decided to volunteer his
services upon seeing in a television report that President Arroyo has opened the gates of Malacanang for Oplan
Sagip Bayan.
“Mahiyain po ako pero I decided na mag-volunteer na din para naman makatulong habang nag-aantay ng
trabaho ko. Masaya po ako kasi kahit iba’t ibang level kami, nagkakasundo kami for the common good at
masaya kami sa pagtulong (I am shy but I decided to volunteer so I can help the victims while waiting for my job.
I am happy because eventhough we came from different levels, we can get together for a common good and we
are happy to help),” Seso said.
As of 12 noon today, these are the breakdown of the 153,535 families serviced by Oplan Sagip Bayan since it
opened yesterday:
Caloocan – 3,770 families
Makati – 232 families
Malabon – 637 families
Mandaluyong – 4,115 families
Manila - 636 families
Marikina – 13,072 families
Muntinlupa – 2,940 families
Paranaque – 450 families
Pasay – 2,182 families
Pasig – 5,813 families
Pateros – 1,310 families
Quezon City – 21,065 families
San Juan – 97 families
Taguig – 3,560 families
Valenzuela – 914 families
Tanay – 1,999 families
Taytay – 1,572 families
Morong - 100 families
Teresa – 204 families
Cainta – 76,000
San Mateo – 200 families
Rodriguez – 735 families
Calamba, Laguna – 2,834 families
Tanza, Cavite – 354 families
Priority Areas in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon):
Barangay Sta. Ana in Taytay – 184 families
Barangay San Juan – 250 families
San Juan Resettlement Areas – 2,700 families
Antipolo City – 11,620 families
Angono – 50 families
Oplan Sagip Bayan is open for donations, especially hot meals for victims that will be distributed in disaster
areas such as Marikina, Cainta and Pasig, among others. Volunteers are always welcome at the Kalayaan Hall
to be part in this worthy endeavor.
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UNITED STATES SENATOR AKAKA’S STATEMENT ON TYPHOON ONDOY
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka issued the following statement on 28 September 2009:
“By now, most of us have seen the images of destruction and human suffering caused by Tropical Storm
Ketsana in the Philippines. Survivors are now struggling to find clean drinking water, food, medicine, and
shelter. In Hawaii, we know all too well the damage tropical cyclones can cause. As we have in the past, we
stand ready to help our friends in the Philippines. I encourage everyone in our community to do what they can to
help those suffering from this terrible disaster.”
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