LOON, Bohol, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III directed the energy and engineering sectors to speed up rebuilding efforts that will enable displaced residents to return to their homes the soonest possible time.
During his briefing with the Cabinet and Local Government Officials on Wednesday at the Loon Municipal Hall, the Chief Executive said restoring the living conditions of the affected residents remains to be government’s urgent priority.
The President slept on Wedesday night inside a tent in Loon.
As of Wednesday, 60 were reported dead while several government vital installations, public buildings and commercial and residential structures were damaged by the strong earthquake in Loon and other municipalities in Bohol.
He said he returned to Bohol not only to check on the progress of the rehabilitation and relief operations for the various municipalities but to ease the anxiety of typhoon victims.
“Iyong primary, palagay kong problema is the mindset of the people. And the best way to explain ay ‘pag may bagyo, darating ang bagyo, aalis iyong bagyo at rebuild na tayo kaagad, ‘di ba? Medyo tapos na ang problema,” the President said.
“Dito, ‘pag nararamdaman ninyo ang aftershocks, parang the problem persists, ano….Iyong getting the people who can go back to their houses seems to be the most urgent priority,” he said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that there is no imminent danger for the Bohol residents, President Aquino said.
He asked the engineers to speed up the conduct of evaluation on the structural soundness of all structures and repair works in all affected areas to enable the displaced residents to go back to their respective homes.
“So iyong normalcy has to be achieved as early as possible, nandoon na nga raw tayo sa -ber months, weather will be turning colder soon and we have a population that is exposed to more elements. That is a problem that can be avoided, and I think we are duty-bound to ensure that we minimize the risks,” he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways will build bunkhouses in a one-hectare property in Tubigon and in an 11-hectare property in Loon.
The President also reminded the electrical engineers and electricians to look into the safety of households in restoring power lines in the community.