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NANCY URGES LGUs TO IDENTIFY OPEN SPACES AS SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTERS DURING, AFTER EARTHQUAKES
( Senate April 12, 2017 )Senator Nancy Binay today urged all local government units (LGUs) to explore the suitability of open spaces in their areas of jurisdiction where people can seek temporary shelter during and after an earthquake.Binay added that LGUs need to designate and maintain open spaces in their localities to serve as potential shelter sites in cases of emergency.“Ang mga designated na open spaces ay dapat na ma-maintain na open at walang mga structures upang maging kanlungan ng mga tao sakaling lumindol,” she said.“Kailangan po ito lalung-lalo na sa mga matataong lugar tulad ng mga siyudad at iba pang highly urbanized areas,” Binay said.According to the lady senator, LGUs must also provide residents and building owners a “quake assessment checklist” to guide them in the evaluation of their homes and buildings.“Maaari pong gamitin ng mga residente ang self-assessment checklist na ginawa ng Phivolcs upang malaman kung safe ba o hindi ang mga tahanan nila,” Binay said.“Libre naman ito at maaaring i-download (http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/images/Flyer-How-Safe-Is-Your-House.pdf),” she added. The senator noted that local barangay executives should also help in identifying earthquake-prone areas and safe evacuation sites, and make the information available to everyone by way of signages, flyers, posters, and other forms of media. “Maging aktibo po tayo sa information campaign at mas lalo pa po nating paigtingin ang mga quake drills upang maging pamilyar po ang ating mga nasasakupan sa mga procedures tulad ng duck-cover-hold at pag-evacuate tungo sa mga ligtas na mga lugar,” the lady senator said. CHECK STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY Binay added that LGUs should continuously prepare for earthquakes and check the soundness of all structures, especially old buildings, in their respective localities to determine if these can withstand earth movements. “Ipinapakita lamang ng mga bumagsak na mga structures sa mga nagdaang lindol na kailangan paigtingin ang inspection ng mga LGUs sa mga structures, lalo yung mga luma na,” Binay said.“Kailangan po itong tuloy-tuloy sa isang bansang earthquake prone tulad natin dahil na rin sa dami ng faults na dumadaan dito, tulad ng Philippine Fault at Valley Fault System (VFS),” she added.A 2004 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) report said that if the VFS generates a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Metro Manila about 170,000 residential houses will collapse, 340,000 residential houses will be partly damaged, and 34,000 persons will die. The same report said that 114,000 persons will be injured in the same earthquake. Binay recalled that several structures, especially old churches and other public structures such as bridges either collapsed or sustained damage during the earthquakes that hit Bohol in 2013, in Surigao last February, and in Batangas last week. “Kailangan na po nating laging paghandaan ang mga lindol o maging pre-emptive dahil hindi natin alam kung kailan ito tatama sa ating mga lugar,” Binay said.“Maaari pong makipagtulungan ang mga LGU sa mga government agencies tulad ng DPWH at Phivolcs upang alamin ang mga risks at mga posibleng earthquake-related hazards sa kanilang mga lugar. Gamitin na rin ang mga mapang ibinigay ng MGB at Phivolcs upang laging maging handa,” she said.“Pwede ring humingi ng tulong sa mga organisasyon tulad ng Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) at Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) upang ma-assess ang mga structures,” Binay added. ### |
PALACE URGES PUBLIC COOPERATION, STARTS SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE TO SURIGAO QUAKE Malacañan on Saturday, February 11, assured prompt and substantive action from the government in response to the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Surigao del Norte Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar stressed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office has prepositioned family food packs to geographically hard-to-reach areas. “Concerned officials are now in Surigao City to conduct monitoring and damaged assessment. Rescue operations are ongoing with Quick Response Teams already mobilized,” Andanar said.For his part, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella urged the public to cooperate and to exercise caution. DUTERTE PLEDGES AID FOR SURIGAO QUAKE VICTIMS SURIGAO CITY — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Sunday, February 12, visited Surigao del Norte following Friday’s 6.7 magnitude tremor that left at least six people dead and over 100 injured. President Duterte flew to the province to personally oversee the relief and rehabilitation efforts being done by the government.”I will release money for you, so prioritize those who lost their lives and source of living,” he said. Aside from livelihood programs, the Chief Executive also suggested to provide housing to earthquake victims.About 230 families were affected by the strong quake, based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMC). It also indicated that estimated cost of damages in infrastructure has reached P601.8 million. Surigao City, the hardest hit area, had been placed under a state of calamity.Rehabilitation funding for Surigao City is pegged at P69.8 million, which includes restoration of national roads and bridges, repair of irrigation canals and water system, rehabilitation of public buildings, burial assistance, rice/food packs, and medicines. In the same speech, President Duterte likewise underscored the significance of attaining national peace when it comes to environmental preservation. ”Let’s achieve peace. All mountains that are full of conflict are useless. If you cut trees, make sure you have something to replace it with, or else the soil will erode,” he said. He also expressed his inclination to shut down mining firms in Surigao as recommended by Environment Secretary Regina Lopez.“So I think they will never be able to restore nature to what it was before.So I think I really will shut them all down,” he said. He, meanwhile, vowed to provide alternative livelihood to those who will be affected by the possible closure of mining companies. PND ###
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Cusi: DOE Overseeing Earthquake Power Rehab Efforts, Fuel Price Freeze(Surigao City- Feb. 12, 2017). In the light of the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that hit Surigao province on Friday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi today joined President Rodrigo Duterte and other cabinet members in extending the necessary assistance to all affected communities and individuals.
“We are looking into the extent of the damages caused by the earthquake. We are addressing the immediate needs and concerns of our people on energy,” said Secretary Cusi, who stressed “safety is the top priority.”
“We have to ensure an adequate, reliable and secure supply of energy and to execute fair pricing of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),” added Cusi.
Cusi said his department is closely monitoring the power restoration efforts being conducted by the Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SURNECO).
According to a National Electrification Administration’s report, 95% of SURNECO’s franchise area has been restored by 11:00 p.m. last night.
The effort has so far energized the primary lines of Surigao City and all the municipalities of the province while the remaining 5% is still being addressed by the electric cooperative.
SURNECO also reported the damage on its main office building, necessitating the transfer to their old building and covered court.
Earlier, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines reported that there is no earthquake-related damage or sustained fault on transmission facilities.
For the petroleum and oil products, the DOE has reiterated the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10623 which imposes a “price freeze” on certain LPG and kerosene products being sold in the areas affected by the calamity.
“With the declaration of a State of Calamity, government will impose a price freeze on basic energy commodities for 15 days, particularly for kerosene and household LPG,” said Cusi.
“In order to effectively ensure the supply of petroleum products, oil companies are obliged to update the DOE of the operational status of their depots and gasoline stations within the areas to stabilize the supply and reduce chances of individuals who are taking advantage of the oil situation,” he added.
“The DOE assures everyone that it will remain to be vigilant in protecting the interest of the public, ” Sec Cusi concluded.
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