A detailed assessment is needed before the effects of Typhoon Egay can be considered minimal, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Wednesday.
“Hindi natin mako-consider na minimal ang epekto nito kasi hindi pa tayo nagaassess ng lubusan kung ano talaga ang nangyari dito, kaya ang susunod po na mangyayari, kaalinsabay ng pagbibigay po ng tulong sa ating mga displaced na mga kababayan at masigurado pong patuloy na ligtas sila sa kapahamakan, ay magra-rapid assessment po ang mga kanya kanyang lugar kung ano po ang talagang nangyari (We cannot consider the effects yet as minimal as we are still to conduct a total assessment of what really took place during the typhoon. So what will happen now, while we are giving aid to our displaced countrymen and ensuring that they are safe from further harm, is that we will conduct a rapid (damage) assessment of all places [affected by the typhoon)] to determine what really transpired),” said Teodoro, who is also chairperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in a situation briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He said the national government can decide on “interventions” it could take to help local government units once data from the assessment of the typhoon’s impact has been obtained.
The DND chief said they would be doing this while preparing for the possible effects of another low pressure area (LPA) which is being monitored by the weather bureau.
Amid response efforts on the aftermath of Egay, Teodoro said the government and all its agencies are sparing no efforts in helping communities affected by the earlier effects of the southwest monsoon and the unrest of Mayon Volcano.
This is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive that government response in all calamities must be fast and coordinated, he added.
PAF, PNP mount response efforts
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced that it has activated its disaster response team units (DRTUs) with equipment and vehicles as Egay battered Northern Luzon.
“The concerned Tactical Operations Wings specifically TOGs 1 and 2 are actively mobilizing their personnel and equipment, and making thorough preparations for deployment to the regions affected by ST Egay,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement.
She also said the PAF remains committed and ready in providing assistance to all communities during these times of calamities.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said around 7,000 police officers were deployed to five regions to help in ongoing response efforts for typhoon-hit villages.
He added that these personnel were deployed in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa and were ordered to do various relief functions such as road-clearing, food pack distribution, and police response missions.
“So far we are happy to report that there are no criminalities reported in these areas and nagpapasalamat tayo (we are thankful for that) and I thanked all the agencies and all our police force on the ground for doing a good job,” Acorda said in a press briefing in Camp Crame. (PNA)
