AFP Deploys Aircraft, Ships to Bohol for Relief Operations Ground Assistance Continues

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City –The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed two C-130 aircraft and three naval logistic ships to transport a total of 285,000-lbs relief goods to Tagbilaran, Bohol in aid of the evacuees affected by the recent earthquake.

Two C-130 aircraft from the Philippine Air Force departed Villamor Air Base in Pasay yesterday to transport 48,000 lbs of assorted relief goods from Philippine National Red Cross and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Tagbilaran, Bohol. Its Sokol choppers are also on standby for further distribution of relief goods to said area.

Yesterday, the Naval Forces Central also deployed its logistic ship AT295 and two navy vessels to Tagbilaran, Bohol to transport 237,000 lbs of relief goods from Department of Health, Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, and ABS-CBN foundation for evacuees in Tagbilaran City.

Meanwhile, the AFP’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operation on the ground continues to support the Philippine National Police, DSWD, and the local government of Bohol.

The Headquarters, Central Command in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu is still on Red Alert status for HADR operations, and ongoing supervising/monitoring of HADR operations in Bohol. The Headquarters, Special Forces Battalion has completed the hauling of 1,000 packs of relief goods in Danao, Bohol in coordination with DSWD yesterday.

Moreover, the 2^nd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army and the 53rd Engineering Brigade continue to assist in the distribution of relief goods in the municipality of Sagbayan and Tubigon respectively, in coordination with the PNP and LGU of Bohol.

AFP Deploys Troops for Barangay Polls in NCR

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City—A total of 861 soldiers will be deployed to support the Philippine National Police in securing barangay elections in the National Capital Region (NCR) on October 28.

Each Major Service will provide 67 soldiers to be placed under operational control of the Joint Task Force-NCR to augment 165 soldiers already in its command. The deployment will take effect on October 21-30, 2013.

The JTF-NCR will commit its units for security augmentation in election-related tasks given that the PNP, through the NCR Police Office, will primarily carry-out the operation.

Election-related tasks will include manning of checkpoints; visibility patrols; establishment of Joint Security Assistance Desks; security of 743 voting centers; and security of vital installations.

AFP units will also undergo pre-deployment lectures pertaining to legal procedures in the conduct of said election-related tasks.

The AFP will maintain vigilance and continue its close coordination with the PNP in carrying out election security operations to ensure that the Filipino people could peacefully and safely practice their right to suffrage.

“What about Santi?”

MANILA-We would like to remind the national government to also address the devastation caused by Santi.

As of October 16, according to the NDRRMC itself, the only assistance coming from the central government was the P6.6 million worth of relief goods from the DSWD.

I am sure, however, that more help has been sent since.  

For the record, Santi affected 900,421 persons in 800 barangays in 78 municipalities and 9 cities in 14 provinces.

It damaged 59,001 houses, 10,837 of which were beyond repair.

By government’s count, Santi left behind P3.2 billion worth of damages : P114.4 million in infrastructure  and  P3.17 billion in agriculture.

While government is correct to focus its attention in Central Visayas, it must also look up, to Central Luzon, where government help is also badly needed.

It must be able to multitask, to respond to calls for help coming from many fronts.  It must be an equal opportunity provider of comfort and succor.

If it was able to embed Cabinet secretaries in Bohol and Cebu, it must entrench them too in Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Bulacan where they can direct operations on the ground.

This move, plus the delivery of aid, and the promise of rehabilitation funds, will signal to Santi victims that they haven’t been forgotten and that help is on the way.

It is not late to reassure them that help is on the way. 

Bam Aquino to keynote opening of 15th Likha ng Central Luzon

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga-Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV will keynote the opening program of the 15^th Likha ng Central Luzon (LCL) which is slated from October 23-27 at Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

 

 

“Evolving and Expanding, this event will highlight fresh ideas and premium products of more than 160 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) coming from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, each one supporting their provincial brand that ensures only best quality products,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Judith Angeles disclosed.

 

 

The five-day bazaar shall sell regionally produced Christmas decors, processed foods, home furnishings, ceramics, jewelry, fashion accessories, bags, footwear, and other novelty products.

 

 

It will likewise feature engineered bamboo products and others that used indigenous raw materials and environment-friendly technologies.

 

“LCL is also the culmination of SME Development activities for the participants as they apply all that they have learned from capability enhancement trainings and seminars conducted by DTI and all that they have done to improve their product,” Angeles added.

 

 

DTI 3 and Philexport 3 jointly organize the event with the full support of the Regional Development Council 3, Philippine Information Agency and Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc. 

DILG cites LGPMS champs in Central Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently cited local government units in Central Luzon that garnered the top scores in the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS).

 

 

They are Tarlac (provincial category), Angeles (highly-urbanized city category), Cabanatuan (component city category), and San Luis, Aurora (municipal category).

 

 

“LGPMS is an online self-assessment management and development tool that enables provincial, city and municipal governments to determine their capabilities and limitations in the delivery of basic services,” DILG Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Division chief Lerrie Hernandez explained.

 

 

Administrative Governance covers local legislation; development planning; revenue generation; resource allocation and utilization; customer service-civil application; and human resource management and development while Social Governance encompasses health services; support to education services; support to housing and basic utilities; and peace, security and disaster risk management.

 

 

“Economic governance consists of support to agriculture sector; support to fishery services; and entrepreneurship, business and industry promotion and Environmental Governance is composed of forest ecosystem management, freshwater ecosystem management, coast marine ecosystem management, and urban ecosystem management,” Hernandez added.

 

 

Moreover, Valuing Fundamentals of Good Governance involves participation, transparency, and financial accountability. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)

Drilon: Jail those who misused PDAF

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said today that those who are proven to have misused the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) must be prosecuted with the full force of the law regardless of their rank and position in government.

“This issue of corruption in the use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has already been politicized. But my appeal is that let us just concentrate on the policy of prosecution and orderly administration of justice,” said Drilon.

“We must all work towards prosecution of those who are found involved in the misuse of PDAF. If there is evidence enough to convict an accused lawmaker, be it a congressman or a senator, let’s jail him. Likewise, those innocent should be acquitted,” the Senate Chief stressed.

“There is a functioning justice system that will clear the innocent and punish the guilty. We will never shield corrupt officials from being punished,” pointed out Drilon.

“We have enough laws in the land to penalize erring and corrupt government officials and we guarantee that we will implement the law,” he added. 

He said the priority now is to prosecute those involved and ensure that those who misused public funds will be held accountable for their actions.

“This Senate investigation will be relentless in searching for the truth. I consider the Pork Barrel Scam as a great injustice to the Filipino people,” Drilon said earlier.

“Ensuring that justice is upheld will always be the priority of this administration and that is the reason why we are now working towards holding accountable those who have taken advantage of the loopholes in the system,” he added.

“We will guarantee that the truth will come out and that those who will be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt will be punished, jailed, and impeached,” said Drilon.

On the subpoena for Napoles, Drilon said he will sign it immediately when the Blue Ribbon Committee submits the copy of the subpoena for his signature.

The Senate Chief clarified that even if the subpoena is directly issued to Napoles, the Philippine National Police, who has physical custody of Napoles, would still have to secure the persmission of the court as the PNP is holding Napoles not on its own, but by virtue of the order of the court.

Drilon seeks to amend BSP charter, bats for P200-B capitalization

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has filed Senate Bill No. 1865 which seeks to enable the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to effectively respond to the challenges and innovations of a globalized economy by increasing its capitalization to P200 billion, among others. 

 “We have to support BSP in its constitutional mandate of ensuring a competitive, robust and inclusive economy. This additional capitalization and other amendments to the current charter will enhance its capability to perform its roles in protecting the savings of depositors, ensuring the smooth flow of transactions in the financial market, and enhancing the corporate viability of the BSP,” said Drilon.

Drilon pointed out that an empowered BSP fosters a financial system that delivers a high quality of life for Filipinos.

“There is, undoubtedly, a need to respond to contemporary challenges by amending the BSP charter in order that it remains effective in providing policy directions in the areas of money, banking and credit as well as in supervising entities within the financial system,” the Senate chief added.

The capitalization being proposed, he noted, is four times higher than the P50 million provided in the current BSP charter. The P150 million in additional capitalization shall be paid by the government in three consecutive annual installments.

“The amendments will focus mainly on areas that would enhance BSP’s capability in fulfilling its primary objective of maintaining price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy,” said Drilon.

“Aside from the additional capital build-up, the proposed new charter will expand the BSP’s regulatory function to include credit card companies, money changers, e-money issuers, remittance agents, payments and settlement system operators,” noted Drilon.

“The Bangko Sentral shall oversee the payments and settlements system in the Philippines in accordance with sound and prudent practice,” according to the bill.

“The Bangko Sentral shall also have the power to obtain information for supervisory purposes on transactions between a supervised institution and a parent or other affiliate companies, and the authority to look into the main activities of companies affiliated with the parent companies that have a material impact on the safety and soundness of the bank and the banking group,” the bill added.

The bill further seeks to strengthen the BSP’s monetary stability function by restoring its authority to issue negotiable certificates of indebtedness even during normal times, a power granted to the old Central Bank of the Philippines, but was not included in the current BSP charter.

The bill also aims at strengthening BSP’s financial stability function by enhancing BSP’s supervisory authority and providing legal protection for BSP officials when performing official duties.

Lastly, the bill proposed to exempt the BSP from all types of taxes. 

Legarda Reiterates Need to Ensure Integrity of Structures to Withstand Earthquakes

MANILA-In light of the recent magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the Visayas area, Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for the immediate evaluation of the structural integrity of critical structures in the country.

According to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the earthquake that was greatly felt in Bohol and Cebu has caused the death of at least 156 people, affected more than three million citizens, and damaged structures including 2,000 houses, 20 bridges, four roads, and several heritage churches, hospitals, public buildings and private establishments.

“We cannot predict when an earthquake will occur, therefore, we must always be prepared. The best protection against earthquakes is sound engineering practice. With this earthquake that damaged many structures particularly in Bohol and Cebu, it is a must that we immediately revisit our construction standards, codes and practices.  We must examine them now and correct any deficiencies,” said Legarda, the UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

The Senator said that the evaluation and retrofitting of infrastructure in the country, especially hospitals, schools and bridges, must be done regularly to ensure that they can withstand strong earthquakes.

“We must ensure the safety of our schools and hospitals. We were fortunate enough that the earthquake happened on a holiday, otherwise, many children would have been in their schools. Meanwhile, there were hospitals that suffered major damage due to the temblor,” Legarda said. 

She noted that a guidebook on the promotion of disaster mitigation, which was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), revealed that the cost of disaster-proofing a hospital or health facility by incorporating comprehensive disaster protection from earthquake and extreme climatic events into designs from the beginning will only add 4% to the cost of construction.

“This cost is nothing compared to the risk of destruction and death of patients and staff during a disaster, and the equally high health, economic and development impacts in the aftermath,” Legarda explained.

“School and hospital authorities must act now. They must consult structural engineers and assess the vulnerability of school and hospital structures to strong earthquakes, and institute immediate measures to strengthen parts found weak and likely to collapse. We should likewise ensure that our homes and offices, shopping malls and public buildings, and heritage sites are able to withstand strong earthquakes. We must ensure proper and safe construction. This lesson we must accept: Prevention is cost-effective,” she concluded.

Transform PDAF into ‘Priority Disaster Assistance Fund’

MANILA-It is perhaps time to thaw the frozen pork and use it to help victims of the Visayas earthquake, Typhoon Santi and the siege of Zamboanga.  

Withheld PDAF can be converted into a Priority Disaster Assistance Fund.

To effect the release, the Senate can issue a resolution authorizing the executive branch to utilize the unreleased portion of the senators’ share from the Priority Development Assistance Fund for 2013 for the rehabilitation of areas hit by the three calamities.

I will leave it up to the lawyers in the chamber to perfect the legal language which would free the PDAF from judicial impoundment and at the same time allow executive agencies and local governments to use it to provide comfort and succor to those affected by the said calamities.

My point is that from the senators’ funds from PDAF alone, there is a substantial amount that can be tapped for disaster relief.

Ibig sabihin, meron perang nakatiwangwang para ‘itabang’ sa mga biktima ng kalamidad. Pork barrel can be pounded into new classrooms and roads.

The greater tragedy is to hold it in continuous embargo when it can be used to help farmers replant their fields, arson victims to rebuild their homes, and the intrepid Bol-anons and Cebuanos rebuild their towns.

If the old PDAF will be resurrected as Priority Disaster Assistance Fund, senators must have no say on how, where and when it shall be spent, except to remind agencies to disburse it according to procurement and auditing rules.

Above all, it must be spent fast, as the need for assistance is urgent, but in a manner that is transparent. In short, the process can be sped up without circumventing the rules.  

Personally, I believe that local governments are in the best position to spend relief funds and orchestrate rehabilitation work as they are familiar with the damage and the local resources that can be mobilized to repair them. 

Cojuangco-Aquinos’ power, corruption and lies continue in Hacienda Luisita, farmers said

Tarlac City-Coinciding the anniversary of Marcos’ land reform program Presidential Decree 27 on October 21, farmers belonging to the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (Amgl, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) and Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) condemned the machinations of the Aquino government and the Cojuangco-Aquino family in Hacienda Luisita.  The groups said that the Aquino is utilizing the Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with “Reforms” to compel the farm worker beneficiaries to pay amortization for the land, consequently benefiting the Cojuangco-Aquinos.

“They used up public funds to acquire Hacienda Luisita, they rake up immeasurable profits from the sweat and blood of the sugar workers, their self-serving stock distribution option scheme was exposed and trashed, now they want to suck up from the farm workers in the form of amortization of the land,” Joseph Canlas said, Amgl chairperson.

Amgl affirmed that the Cojuangco family used public funds from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Manufacturers Trust of New York which was guaranteed by the Central Bank, to acquire the 6,453-hectare sugar plantation in 1957 through their influence to then president Ramon Magsaysay.  Thus, their claim of ownership is groundless.  The groups said that the Cojuangcos were able to generate huge profits from sugar production while farm workers live in poverty and hunger.

“Since the Magsaysay administration, the Cojuangcos were only able to protect their interests by clinging on those who were on power.  Even during the Marcos dictatorship, Hacienda Luisita was untouched and during the Arroyo government, the Cojuangco-Aquinos were able to secure an ‘assumption of jurisdiction” from labor secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas,” Canlas said.

The groups said that even the Arroyo government revoked the stock distribution option (sdo) scheme in 2005, military forces were deployed in the hacienda during the implementation of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya.

“The Cojuangco-Aquinos would not be able to keep control of Hacienda Luisita if they did not traded political favors.  They take advantage of the failure of the Marcos dictatorship and were able to rise to power,” Canlas added.

Amgl said that the Cojuangco-Aquinos were able to temporarily salvage their interest in the hacienda with the Aquino presidency.  But the favorable decision of the Supreme Court for the farm workers were uncontestable triumph brought about by the intensifying farm workers struggle for genuine land reform.

“Amidst having a member of the family being the president, the Supreme Court junked the sdo and ordered the distribution of the lands.  To subvert the decision, Aquino is using DAR to guarantee the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ interests,” Canlas said.

On the first week of October, DAR distributed certificate of land ownership awards (cloa) to about 2,400 farm worker beneficiaries from barangays Pando, Motrico, Lourdes and Parang.  DAR officials boast as if cloa distribution is already land reform itself.

“The farm workers who applied for these cloas are now in grave danger as they are legally liable in case of non-payment of amortization.  The Cojuangco-Aquinos are now rejoicing thinking they are successful in deceiving the farm workers,” Canlas said.

While DAR is launching its mass deception activities, the Cojuangco-owner Tarlac Dev’t Corp. (Tadeco) is grabbing lands in many barangays in Hacienda Luisita.  Tadeco fenced around 200 hectares in brgy. Balete and 100 hectares in brgy. Cutcut, which is guarded by elements of the military and private security guards.  Farm workers have questioned the land grabbing to DAR officials but denied knowledge.

“These so-called public officials from DAR who smiled heavily during their photo ops at the cloa distribution, are now claiming they knew nothing of what Tadeco did.  Worse, they are doing absolutely nothing to question Tadeco and the Cojuangco-Aquinos.  These DAR officials are clearly minions of president Aquino to safeguard his family’s interests,” Canlas said.

“Our society is really at the stone age from being national democratic.  We have a government who protects the interests of the rich few and keeps the majority of the people in deep poverty and misery.  The only path to fundamental reforms is our struggle for national democracy.  We call on the people of Central Luzon to support the struggle of Hacienda Luisita farm workers as it is long overdue to concretely realize genuine land reform, for our whole society to develop,” Canlas said.

Recto bats for bigger ‘DAP’ funds in ’14

MANILA-Saying that disaster relief funds in the proposed 2014 national budget are not enough to finance the reconstruction of areas hit by the string of man-made and natural calamities, Sen. Recto today called for adjustments in next year’s budget to accommodate rebuilding work.

“There’s certainly a need for bigger DAP - or Disaster Aid Projects - funds,” the Senate President Pro Tempore said. “This is the kind of DAP that we need.”

Recto said the proposed P7.5 billion 2014 allocation of the Calamity Fund might not be enough to underwrite reconstruction work in a “country which seems to be hit recently by every tragedy in the catalogue of calamities.”

“In the past 30 days alone, this country was hit by a 7.2 magnitude quake, a typhoon that left P3.2 billion in damages, and a failed insurgent takeover of a major city which razed 10,160 homes to the ground,” Recto said.

Recto was referring to Tuesday’s tremor which toppled churches and buildings in Central Visayas, Typhoon “Santi” which displaced a million people in 76 towns and 9 cities in Luzon, and last month’s attempt by rebel leader Nur Misuari to wrest control of Zamboaga City from the government.

“The result is that we need to help towns from Argao (Cebu) to Zamboanga to get back on their feet fast,” Recto said.

He said the proposed Calamity Fund allocation in the 2014 national budget is not enough to bankroll the repair or replacement of damaged public infrastructure.

“If we count the help which owners of burned houses in Zamboanga, or Santi-hit farmers in Pampanga, or small Bol-anon businessmen whose stores were destroyed will be needing, the total bill is way above the resources at hand,” Recto said.

He said disasters have become a “major macroeconomic assumption of the budget” and “it will be unwise to ignore their impact in crafting the national budget.”

“If the budget is ballyhooed to be based on needs, then the earthquake in the Visayas and other expenditure-causing calamities must be factored in.  We cannot be faithful to the bottom-up budgeting concept if we ignore the tragedies on the ground,” he said.

Recto said Malacanang and Congress should start “tweaking” the proposed 2014 budget to create “budget space” for calamity relief work.

He said the total DPWH budget for 2014 for Central Visayas, to which Cebu and Bohol belong, is a measly P5.1 billion and “any two-bit carpenter would tell you that this is not enough to repair the public works the earthquake has damaged.”

As to the reconstruction of heritage church buildings, the total budget of the National Commission on Culture and Arts for 2014 at P360 million might not be enough to repair “even the facades of the collapsed Baclayon, Loboc and Dauis churches in Bohol,” Recto said.          

He said Malacanang and Congress should jointly study the option of earmarking funds for the reconstruction of areas placed this year under a state of calamity.

“We can increase the Calamity Fund, or create a fund in the DPWH dedicated exclusively for disaster relief, or even introduce a section in the Unprogrammed Fund which would qualify disaster relief as among the activities which can be funded by excess revenues, new loans or savings,” Recto said.

“We can even rechannel the dismantled PDAF to disaster work.  If we do this, then pork barrel will end up as rebuilding material,” Recto said.

Typhoon-hit NE placed under state of calamity; solon calls for release of funds for rehab

ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday afternoon passed a resolution placing the entire province under a state of calamity amid the devastation brought by supertyphoon “Santi” even as a neophyte lawmaker called on the national government to immediately release funds to speed up rehabilitation efforts.

          Gov. Aurelio Umali said the SP presided over by Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos made the declaration to enable the provincial government to allocate calamity funds for the affected areas.

          Dr. Abraham Pascua, chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the provincial government has initially earmarked P44 million sourced from its savings for the affected families. 

          At the House of Representatives, first district Rep. Estrellita Suansing appealed to the Aquino administration.

          In a privilege speech, Suansing said Santi caused untold devastation to communities in the province, considered the country’s rice granary. Quoting figures from the Central Luzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, an estimated P2.89 billion worth of properties and agriculture was devastated by Santi.

          “As I speak today, the municipalities of Talavera, Zaragoza, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga, Guimba, Licab and Quezon in our province care without electricity. The roads remain impassable due to fallen trees blocking the way,” she said.

          She added that the “saddest part of all” is that Santi left in its wake families who are “hungry, homeless and with a feeling of helplessness,” she said.      

          Suansing said if the national government will not extend aid to the province, it would be irreparably damaged.”

          Pascua said an initial damage assessment made by the PDRRMC placed the damage at P2.7 billion in the province alone. He said, however, that they are still validating reports of damage coming from the 27 towns and five cities.

          In Cabanatuan City, the province’s commercial and trade center - fallen trees and broken and toppled poles continue to litter the roads with local energy officials estimating power to be restored after a month.

          In Palayan City, Mayor Adrianne Cuevas said damage was initially placed at P120 million as strong winds destroyed crops and infrastructure, including a brand-new gymnasium whose entire roof was detached.

           Many places in the province looked like wastelands, with tree trunks lying on both sides of the highway.

          Even shopping malls and department stores in Cabanatuan have no electricity, including NE Crossing where a generator reportedly burst due to overloading. (Manny Galvez)

   

Pampanga INC deacon, 3 others slain in CL violence

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – An Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) deacon and three other persons were killed in separate violent incidents in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Zambales over the weekend, authorities here reported yesterday.

Police identified the victims as Benedict Balajadia, 34, a businessman and INC deacon, of Barangay San Juan Baño, Arayat, Pampanga, Renante Codera, 38, of Jaen, Nueva Ecija, Christopher Solis, 43, of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija and Yasir Muslimin, 40, of Masinloc, Zambales.

Balajadia was shot at point blank range by unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects while on his way home past 1 p.m. on board a red Honda TMX with sidecar (9284-RA) along Arayat-Magalang Road, Brgy. Telapayong, Arayat town.

Except for Codera, police said the suspects behind the gunslays of Balajadia, Solis and Muslimin were unidentified.

Codera’s attacker was identified as Eliseo Cruda, 48, of Brgy. Purlod, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, who was arrested by responding cops.

Solis was busy attending to his store, police said, when gunned down by a lone attacker who posed as customer. The victim died of lone gunshot wound in the head.

Muslimin was shot dead in front of his residence at Sitio Balogo Highway, Brgy. Inhobol, Masinloc, Zambales by unidentified armed men believed to be communist rebels.

Police said all the incidents are under investigation by authorities in respective areas to determine the motive behind the killings. (Jess Malabanan)

Legarda: Remain Vigilant, Take Safety Precautions Amid 7.2 Earthquake in Visayas

MANILA-Amid the strong earthquake that hit the Visayas area, Senator Loren Legarda today called on affected communities to remain vigilant for possible aftershocks and other effects of the temblor.

On Tuesday morning, The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Carmen, Bohol and affected nearby towns and provinces. The NDRRMC is still assessing the damages, casualties and other effects of the earthquake.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. Initial reports say that at least four people were killed and we hope there are no more fatalities. The strong temblor and its effects may have caused fear among our citizens and it is important that we keep our people aware of what they must do to be safe from the possible after effects,” said Legarda.

“It is also unfortunate that many structures have collapsed, including historical churches that are centuries old. As several critical structures have been damaged, tourism in the region will likely be affected. Amid this disaster, we are reminded that the increasing frequency and magnitude of earthquakes highlight the need for early action,” she added.

The Senator also reiterated her call for preparedness against earthquakes in all parts of the country as a temblor of the same magnitude can happen any time.

“According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Marikina Valley Fault Line is ripe for movement but no one can predict the exact time when it will move. This makes preparedness for such eventuality even more important,” she said.

Legarda said that the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2004 revealed that a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila would cause the destruction of 40% of the residential buildings, damage 35% of all public buildings, kill 34,000 people, injure 114,000 individuals, and the ensuing fires will also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.

“The study also contains priority actions that should have been undertaken 3-6 years after the study was publicized to reduce the impacts of such a strong tremor,” she pointed out.

Among the priority steps that must be undertaken include the promotion of disaster-resilient urban development; ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure; formulating emergency supply system of water, food and other necessities; and determining open spaces for safe refuge when tremors occur.

“Earthquakes turn into major disasters due to unsafe structures—poorly built structures, buildings in inappropriate places, inadequate design and materials specification, and shortcuts in construction. Inspection during the construction of both public and private infrastructure is important. The additional expense required for making structures safe from earthquakes is worth it especially if it would save thousands of precious lives,” she stressed.

Legarda said that the government must ensure that all structures, especially bridges, school buildings and hospitals, are earthquake-proof through the conduct of a nationwide structural evaluation and by retrofitting these structures to allow them to withstand destructive earthquakes.