MANILA, (PNA) — Malacanang said government agencies and has reached some isolated areas and brought relief assistance but still working hard to also bring support to other areas affected by Tuesday’s earthquake.
“Meron na tayo doon sa Inabanga, Bohol, nakapagpadala na tayo today ng 1,000 food packs. Report din ng isa nating kasamahang reporter na hindi pa daw nakakaabot ang tulong doon,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in a press briefing on Friday in Malacanang.
“We are looking at several areas pa rin like Batasan Island in Tubigon at sa Antequera, meron daw mga pangangailangan pa rin doon and we’re trying to respond as quickly and as precisely as possible,” she added.
Valte said they are getting reports of isolated areas and a number of roads that remain impassable. If not impassable, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will inspect those structures to assess their strength.
The consensus from the coordination meeting Friday morning was to identify these roads and to identify alternative routes for rescuers and teams to take, she said.
Although the government has been doing airlifts for food drops to make sure that relief will reach affected communities, Valte asked the help of the public and the media to provide information of places that remain isolated.
“If there are any areas that need relief pa rin or have not been reached by national government, please let us know. We would appreciate your help in this,” she said.
For instance, in Loon, Bohol, there were reports about the need for medical evacuation and the coast guard responded immediately by sending a boat because Loon can be accessed by sea, she said.
As of the moment, government agencies continue to look for alternate sea routes apart from the Tagbilaran port for the transport of relief goods.
Valte said the national and provincial teams are trying to work through the obstacles so relief goods could be sent to disaster areas.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, who is currently in South Korea for a State visit, gave instructions to Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda to go to Bohol today.
The Cabinet officials, Valte said, were in Loon Friday morning and had a coordination meeting with the provincial officials of Bohol as well as the local officials.
Their goal was to make sure that there is no duplication in the efforts of the national and provincial government when it comes to reaching the municipalities that need help.