PBBM eyes declaration of state of calamity in Bicol, BARMM

President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Saturday presided over a “full council meeting” of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, expressing assurance that government agencies have stepped up efforts to help victims hit by the storm. (Photo: Office of the Press Secretary/Website)

MANILA – A yearlong state of calamity is likely to be declared in areas battered by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, particularly in the Bicol region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recommended to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the declaration “due to the effects, damage, and projected impacts by Paeng.”

The NDRRMC made the recommendation during a full council meeting on Saturday.

“National state of calamity ang (is) what you are recommending. Sabagay, maraming regions affected, ano (Many regions are affected, right)? It already justifies for state of calamity. Sige (All right), let me wait for your resolution. Tignan ko (Let’s see),” Marcos told Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr., NDRRMC chairperson.

Faustino is expected to sign a resolution seeking the declaration of a state of calamity and the acceptance of international assistance “based on needs” of typhoon-hit areas.

Marcos directed Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to assist the BARMM in getting the calamity funds to ensure its swift recovery.

“Secretary Benhur Abalos, tulungan natin ‘yung (let’s help) BARMM because they can’t access calamity funds. Kung kailangan nila ng calamity fund, tulungan natin sila (If they need calamity funds, let us help them),” Marcos said. “We can facilitate ‘yung kanilang pag-download ng calamity fund kung sakali mang kailangan pa para they have everything they need (We can facilitate the downloading of calamity funds they need, so they have everything they need).”

Water and power supply

Meanwhile, the President promised to provide bottled drinking water for typhoon victims, after BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim told him that displaced Bangsamoro residents need potable water.

He also vowed to later provide purifying systems to augment the drinking water supply in the region.

“Bottled water muna (first). But this is not going to be efficient so we will eventually be following up with purifying systems para at least ‘yung mga malayo, may naiinom silang tubig na (so those who are in remote areas would be provided with) fresh water,” Marcos said.

He likewise emphasized the need to prioritize the restoration of power in hospitals and evacuation centers located in typhoon-hit areas.

“Usually, dapat unahin natin, when it comes to restoring power, ‘yung mga hospital, mga evacuation center (we have to prioritize hospitals and evacuation centers when it comes to restoring power). Whatever it is, if we need to put generators, makabit ulit ang kuryente (to bring back the power supply). Those should be the priorities,” he said.

Satellite phones for mayors

Information and Communications Technology Secretary John Ivan Uy said satellite phones would be distributed to municipal mayors to ensure proper coordination with local government units (LGUs).

“They (LGUs) know what’s happening on the ground,” he said. “All the national agencies, please, lahat ng gagawin ninyo, mag-coordinate kayo sa LGUs (please coordinate with LGUs everything that you do).”

Marcos also directed the government to be “accurate” in giving weather updates and advisories after he expressed concern over the reported death toll.

The number of deaths validated and attributed to Paeng stood at 45 as of 3 p.m.

“Let’s keep watching Paeng and see what the situation is,” he said. “For everybody else, I think our SOPs (standard operating procedures) are okay. We follow our SOPs. We just keep doing what we can and again.”

As of the 2 p.m. bulletin, Paeng slightly decelerated and is expected to make its fifth landfall in San Juan, Batangas.

Paeng made landfall in Virac, Catanduanes at 1:10 a.m.; Caramoan, Camarines Sur at 1:40 a.m.; Buenavista, Quezon at 6 a.m.; and Santa Cruz, Marinduque at 8:40 a.m.

As of posting time, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted over Metro Manila, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (Olongapo City, Subic, Castillejos, San Antonio), Marinduque, the northern and central portions of Quezon (Pitogo, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Infanta, Tiaong, Unisan, Plaridel, San Antonio, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Mauban, Dolores, General Nakar, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan) including Pollilo Islands, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Rizal, the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Paluan, Abra de Ilog) including Lubang Islands, and the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Baco, City of Calapan, Naujan).