REVILLA DISMAYED OVER NDCC RELIEF EFFORTS

Senator Bong Revilla expressed disappointment over the apparent failure of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to equally distribute government relief goods to the regions distressed by the recent onslaught of typhoon Frank.

This was the reaction of the senator after personally verifying reports that Iloilo province has been shortchanged by NDCC in terms of relief goods delivery, soon after he arrived in the said province for his own relief campaign and inspection of damaged infrastructures. Revilla brought relief packages consisting of rice and instant noodles and has allocated P1 million, which is now available, to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo , for the benefit of those requiring medical attention.

Revilla met Iloilo Governor Niel Tupaz and Iloilo City Mayor Gerry Treñas who both lamented the seeming shortcomings of the national government in their jurisdiction.

According to the two local officials, NDCC provided a measely 250 "family packs" of relief goods which consist of three kilos of rice, seven cans of corned beef and seven cans of sardines each for Iloilo City and 1000 thousand sacks of rice for the whole Iloilo province.

"We can not prevent the residents of Iloilo and Region 6 as a whole to ask whether there is favoritism on the side of the NDCC if the national government will not address this issue," warned Revilla.

Revilla explained that considering the population of Iloilo City of approximately 400,000 and Iloilo province which more than one and a half million, the food assistance is definitely insufficient.

He recalled that NDCC reported last Tuesday that Region 6 or Western Visayas was hardest hit by the typhoon. Aside from Saranggani in Region 12, the provinces of Aklan and Iloilo which is under Region 6 have been placed under a state of calamity.

Based on the records of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), around P500 million worth of infrastructure were destroyed in 432 barangays in Iloilo province. The local government likewise noted the adverse effects of the damage brought about by typhoon Frank to its prolific tourism industry.

Revilla stressed that government aid should be severely felt by the affected families in all regions devastated by the recent typhoon.

"Honestly, there is dismal support here in Iloilo . We know that there are so many who were affected, but the people here should be given equal attention by the national government. If not, their assistance will only be worthless and they will look inutile," he said.

For his part, the lawmaker promised to make representations in Manila and ensure that Iloilo gets the support and assistance it needs.

"Setbacks such as this are the reason why I filed a bill that would decentralize disaster management strategies down to the barangay level. It is only proper that the 41,882 barangays in the country directly be part of national government's effort on disasters and calamities, "Revilla added, referring to Senate Bill 2013 which seeks to replace NDCC with the NDMC (National Disaster Management Council) and have its own annual fund under the General Appropriations Act.

Meanwhile, Revilla appealed to all businessmen in Iloilo province and other areas affected by the typhoon not to abuse the situation by making unreasonable price increases in their products. He likewise urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to monitor prices of basic goods and services. He discovered that five gallons of water in Iloilo City presently cost P100, from just P30 before the typhoon.