President Duterte ordered the DOE to restore power supply in areas affected by “Odette”
PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE — On Sunday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the Philippine President has directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to revive power supply in areas affected by typhoon “Odette” (Rai).
According to Nograles, some areas, particularly Dinagat Islands, still don’t have electricity.
Nograles also said that the President has directed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to install VSAT (very small aperture terminal) equipment to Siargao as well as satellite phones in order to ensure coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) for calamity response.
“Number one, ipa-address agad sa Department of Energy (DOE) ang problema sa kuryente nu’ng mga walang kuryente,” Nograles said when asked in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB about President Duterte’s directives after a visit in Bohol. “In fact, yung DICT may have an emergency cooperation system… at ide-deploy na sa Siargao.“
Nograles added that the government will provide community tents at Dinagat Islands in order to replace damaged evacuation sites as some evacuation centers were compromised. Also, Nograles said that the President has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to address the needs of fisherfolk whose boats were destroyed by “Odette”.
He also said that Social Welfare Secretary Rolly Bautista, with the assistance of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, were also designated as crisis managers for areas affected by “Odette”.
READ ALSO: President Duterte Vows To Provide Bohol With P2B Assistance After “Odette” Onslaught
Nograles said in a separate statement that President Duterte authorized the use of government assets in order to ensure that relief goods were delivered immediately.
“Having said this, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard will send their boats and ships to augment the immediate delivery of needed supplies, equipment and food in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands,” Nograles said. “Also, the BRP Ang Pangulo will likewise be sent to Dinagat Islands and Siargao to act as floating hospital as the typhoon damaged the hospitals in these areas and medical personnel need augmentation to treat the injured and those with medical needs.“
GMA News Online reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command was committed to send medical personnel via two Navy ships for Dinagat Islands and Siargao.
Nograles also said that the Department of Health (DOH) will send medical supplies and health frontline workers in Dinagat Islands. He noted that the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will assess the seaworthiness of vessels in Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte in order to give more way of delivery of food and supplies to those areas.
Likewise, he pointed out that the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD) and the National Housing Authority (NHA) will provide “necessary assistance to affected families who lost their houses or got their houses damaged”.
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