Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año stressed Monday the urgency of improving communication lines to facilitate the delivery of appropriate assistance to the distressed local government units (LGUs) during disasters.
During the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting, Año pointed this out citing the case in Catanduanes province where updates were difficult to access with the communication system down.
Even with the telephone signals down, Año has strongly pushed for the revival of the radio communication systems aside from the satellite communication lines.
Año noted having received initial reports that an estimated 90 percent of the infrastructures in Catanduanes were damaged.
“So we will get more reports pagka ma-establish natin yung secured communcation at nandun na rin naman ang ating military, PNP, at saka Coast Guard so kunting tiis na lang at makukuha natin yung buong picture ng Catanduanes (when we have established the secured communication as the military, PNP (Philippine National Police (PNP) and Coast Guard are already in the area. Please bear with the situation as we are bound to get the full picture in Catanduanes),’’ Año said.
Through the PNP provincial director, Año said that there were four casualties of the typhoon with further assessment being done to determine the extent to the damage to government projects in the province.
The DILG chief identified Bato, Catanduanes as the most severely affected by the super typhoon as it was hit directly during the first landfall.
He noted that the other areas hit by the super typhoon are the towns of Guinobatan and Tiwi, Albay; and to a lesser degree San Narciso, Quezon and Lobo, Batangas.
Through the DILG’s Operation:Listo (awareness) protocols, Año cited the LGUs for their excellent preparations before the super typhoon struck their provinces.
As early as October 30, Año said that the concerned LGUs already conducted forced evacuation that lessened possible casualties.
Año also noted that forced evacuation was conducted even in Metro Manila which was spared by the super typhoon.
He added that the local chief executives (LCEs) were present and busy monitoring the situation and scrutinizing updates during and after the super typhoon.
But, Año admitted the government’s target is to achieve “zero casualties’’ during disasters.