06 December 2006
LEGAZPI CITY—PRESIDENT MA- capagal-Arroyo, in her five-hour visit to Camarines Sur and Albay yesterday, ordered government agencies to stop all finger-pointing but rather to ensure that no communities affected by supertyphoon “Reming” would be left “isolated and hungry.”
She ordered the extension of the search and retrieval operations for 10 days more in mud-sputtered areas in Legazpi City and Daraga and Guinobatan towns—all in Albay.
Wearing a black-colored blouse, which probably symbolized grief for the massive loss of lives and properties caused by Reming primarily in Albay, Arroyo visited calamity victims in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, and Guinobatan, Albay, carrying children evacuees in her arms.
She distributed relief goods and financial assistance to some bereaved families at P5,000 for every dead person.
Aida Tolero of Barangay Binitayan in Daraga, Albay, one of the villages affected by the mudflow thanked Arroyo for the “gift,” saying it would go a long way in helping her rebuild her life.
The latest death toll as of yesterday was 484 with 678 still missing and 1,475 injured, said the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol.
Describing the tragedy as something similar to that of Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte, Arroyo looked into the ongoing rescue and relief operations and ensured that the basic needs of the people would be met.
She directed disaster agencies to start finding ways to address and replace the losses.
Arroyo also ordered the speedy clearing of roads of volcanic debris, specifically that going to Tabaco City, which became an isolated town, delaying the distribution of relief goods in affected villages in that area.
The Department of Public Works and Highways vowed to finish road-clearing operations by Friday.
Following the declaration of the state of national calamity, a total of P1 billion will be disbursed to cover relief and rehabilitation efforts and would be divided among 12 regions affected by “Milenyo” and supertyphoons “Paeng” and “Reming.” Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon
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