MANILA, (PNA) — Malacanang said it would try to help reconcile the positions of the Philippine Red Cross and the local government Maribojoc, Bohol, so relief goods could reach the needy and eliminate misunderstandings between relief groups.
“Pagsisikapan ng ating pamahalaan na mapaglapit ang pananaw ng mga taong nasa ground dahil nga hindi naman nakakatulong ang magkaroon pa ng iringan. Ang dapat po talagang manaig ay ang pakikipagtulungan ng lahat ng mga tumutulong,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a press briefing Tuesday in Malacanang.
It was reported that the Maribojoc mayor in Bohol attempted to stop the distribution of relief goods, telling Red Cross personnel he wanted relief goods turned over to the LGU, so that they will be the ones to do the distribution.
Although the Red Cross and the local government have their own positions on how relief goods are distributed to the people, Coloma said the Palace would rather that they agree on a more efficient and faster distribution of relief items.
“Ang dapat pong makita natin ay ‘yung paghahatid ng kagyat na pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayang nasalanta ng kalamidad, lalung-lalo na ‘yung patungkol sa pagkain at ‘yung sa sisilungan nila. ‘Yung pinaka-basic needs nila, in terms of food and shelter, should not be jeopardized by any disagreements on the manner of distribution of relief goods,” he said.
Coloma acknowledged the realities on the ground particularly the challenges being faced by relief organizations that want to reach people in need.
In a big disaster such as the Bohol quake, one of the challenges is logistics, Coloma said. Relief organizations have to deal with obstacles on the ground to immediate distribute relief goods.
For this reason, he said, President Benigno S. Aquino III always asks for updates from officials to ensure that there’s no hindrance for people getting the necessary support the soonest.
With regards to restoring power in the affected areas, Coloma said the Department of Energy is working hard to fix destroyed lines so the supply of electricity would normalize.