PRESS RELEASE

No.

Releasing Officer:

 

Date

Feb20, 2008

 

MARINA M. AGUSTIN

 

 

Acting Chief, Office for Public and Legislative Affairs

Office for Public Affairs, Department of National Defense, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

 

Telephone Nos:  911-3339 / 911-4529

 

Catex: 911-6001 to 12, loc. 8445/8444

     Fax No.: 911-7113

Teodoro off to Samar  for relief operations

     Upon the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., concurrent Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, left for Borongan, Samar to inspect the areas affected by flooding and landslides due to the three days of heavy rains in the province.  

     “I want to personally assess the situation in the area and determine the assistance we still need to provide to affected residents,” the defense chief said.  

     Secretary Teodoro boarded this afternoon (2:00 p.m.) a C-130 aircraft that carries about 10 tons of relief goods provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).      

     He will lead the distribution of the initial relief assistance which includes used clothing, compact foods and other relief supplies. 

     Another C-130 flight is scheduled tomorrow to deliver the additional 27 tons of relief goods from DSWD to the affected areas in the province. 

     Secretary Teodoro stressed the usefulness of C-130 aircraft during disaster response saying it facilitates government’s effort to bring relief assistance to affected families in the far-flung areas. 

     “In times like this, we rely on our C130 aircraft to ferry the relief goods to assist our kababayans at the soonest time possible,” the defense chief said. 

     Thus, Secretary Teodoro further emphasized the importance of having airports in coastal towns that are not easily accessible especially during disasters.      

     Other provinces affected by flooding and landslides are Naujan, Oriental Mindoro in region IV-B; Sorsogon and Catanduanes in Region V; Capiz in Region VI; and Biliran and Leyte in Region VII.  

     According to the latest NDCC report, a total of 18,803 families or 86,577 persons were affected in Regions IV-B, V and VIII.  

Damages in infrastructure in the provinces of Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte reached P238.70M.