On the DOTC and DILG response in the wake of Typhoon Pablo

MANILA, December 10, 2012-Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have been deployed to conduct search and rescue as well as relief operations in the province of Davao Oriental. The SARV-3504 has successfully completed its second trip which transported relief goods and response personnel to the Municipality of Banganga and ferried 42 residents of the Municipality of Banganga to Mati City, the provincial capital. It is now on standby for a third trip. Another vessel, the SARV-003, is now moored at Sasa Wharf in Davao City. It will be deployed to augment SARV-3504 after refueling.

Meanwhile, three patrol boats of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources manned by PCG personnel have been organized as a Task Force for the search and rescue of fishermen at sea. The MCS-3009 is already conducting operations in the area while two more vessels (MCS-2004 and MCS-3005) will be dispatched from the port of Mati tonight to augment the effort. According to a report by Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya, 20 fishermen have been rescued, five bodies were recovered, and 310 remain unaccounted for.

In support of the DOTC-PCG efforts, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been continuously assessing the situation in Regions 11, 13 and 7 to facilitate the delivery of national government assistance. Upon the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas, the local government unit (LGU) of Mati is facilitating the release of its calamity fund for the hiring of all available large, local fishing boats for the immediate transfer of goods from Mati City to affected areas in Davao Oriental.

The Philippine National Police regional offices in Mindanao are also on full alert status and its investigation units have been mobilized to assist LGUs and the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor market conditions for price control violations and unfair trade practices.

It will also be remembered that as early as December 2, the DILG had already ordered the reactivation of Local Disaster Risk Response and Management Councils in preparation for the impact of Typhoon Pablo particularly in the following regions: NCR, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and ARMM.

To further complement relief operations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will construct today 63 bunkhouses in the hardest hit Municipalities of Banganga, Boston, and Cateel in Davao Oriental and New Bataan in Compostela Valley. Each bunkhouse will provide shelter for 10 families as rehabilitation efforts begin in their towns.

In addition, we welcome the efforts of TV5 and Mr. Pangilinan for a telethon this evening to raise 100 million pesos for the victims of Typhoon Pablo. Likewise, we urge the public to support the private sector initiatives of ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya and GMA’s Kapuso Foundation.

Both the national government and the private sector are at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in areas affected by this recent calamity. We call on all Filipinos to continue being of service to our countrymen most in need, knowing fully well that together we will persist and we shall overcome these difficult times.