DILG chief reaches LGUs amidst communication problems

The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas is in Borongan, Eastern Samar to help ensure that LGUs are prepared. (Photo by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who is still in Borongan City, Eastern Samar, on Sunday said that despite some road debris due to Typhoon “Ruby”, the National Frontline Team vowed to exhaust all efforts to communicate with all affected local government units (LGUs) so the national government can help them respond better to their post-disaster needs.

Roxas reported that the team is currently en route to nearby municipalities to personally inspect the situation and begin coordinating immediate relief efforts, starting with the town of Dolores.

“We are now on our way to Dolores from Borongan but we are being stalled by fallen trees and power lines, which we are now clearing,” said Roxas in a text message via satellite.

Dolores is 65 kilometers away from the city of Borongan but due to the obstructions on the road, it took the DILG Secretary and the team more than two hours to travel the first 22 kilometers.

Typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) has made its first landfall in the municipality of Dolores Saturday night. It has made its second landfall over Cataingan, Masbate around 9 a.m. on Sunday and expected to make third landfall between 8-10 p.m. Sunday at Sibuyan Island, Romblon.

Both communication and power lines in many parts of Visayas are still down.

Roxas also mentioned that other Eastern Samar local chief executives (LCEs) have began accounting for their constituents, including San Julian Mayor Ezekiel Aseo, who reported no casualties in his town.

Meanwhile, the DILG has also been receiving reports that a number of mayors from other typhoon-affected areas have reported that evacuees have started returning to their homes.