Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today directed local executives, police and military officials not to allow residents displaced by Typhoon Pablo to return to their homes in areas classified as danger zones.
Meeting with local officials in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Surigao del Sur, Binay said the directive to clear all danger zones came from President Benigno Aquino III.
“For their own safety, residents should not be allowed to return to danger zones,” Binay told local executives.
The Vice President flew to Mindanao Thursday to assess the damage caused by Pablo in Davao and Compostela Valley and check on the conditions of those who were affected.
He visited the towns of New Bataan in Compostela Valley, Cateel in Davao Oriental and Lingig in Surigao del Sur.
He appealed to the private sector for support in providing relief goods to those in evacuation areas.
“Kailangang tumulong ang lahat, gobyerno at ang private sector,” he said. “Ang immediate need ay ang makakain ang mga naapektuhan.”
Binay said that his office will be distributing 10,000 bags of goods in Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Compostela Valley. The bags contain noodles, biscuits and canned goods.
Moreover, the Vice President said housing and agricultural support should also be given attention.
He expressed concern over the negative impact of Typhoon Pablo on agriculture, particularly to banana and coconut plantations.
“About 500 hectares were affected, equivalent to P5 billion worth of damages,” Binay said.
The Vice President, Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council, said he will ask President Aquino for the national government’s assistance to provide new homes for victims.
“On my part, ang aasikasuhin namin ay ang housing kaya yung mga dadalhin namin na yero at building materials, doon gagamitin,” the housing czar said.
He also reminded members of the Home Development Mutual (Pag-IBIG) Fund affected by the typhoon that they were eligible to apply for calamity loans.