Several groups on Tuesday dared the House of Representatives to include in its investigation the accountability of mining companies that led to the worsening condition of typhoon-hit areas.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas President Danilo Ramos made the call as House prepares to investigate, in aid of legislation, the cause of massive flooding that submerged the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses (international code name Vamco).
“We should not do an investigation just to provide a band-aid solution, the House of Representatives should probe what is the root of the problem, the continued release of water from dams [during Typhoon Ulysses], the legal and illegal logging, and large and small-scale mining operation triggered massive flooding in several areas [in Luzon],” said Ramos.
According to Ramos, the suspension of mining operations and the filing of cases against them should also be resolved and investigated by the House.
Last Monday, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, together with Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, filed House Resolution 1348 to immediately conduct the probe.
Velasco wants to probe the circumstances surrounding the rapid inflow of water into the reservoir, as well as any non-compliance with laws, rules or regulations that may have had a contributory effect to the swelling of Cagayan River.
The Speaker also just wanted the chamber to look into the decision of the National Irrigation Administration to open the spillway gates of Magat Dam, and if such action was done in accordance with duly established guidelines and protocols.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro slammed the national government’s lack of disaster response and demanded accountability for failures in preparations in times of calamities.
“Make up for your absence, ensure that you file charges against the masterminds of mining and quarrying operations that led to the worsening condition of typhoon-hit areas, and affected many lives,” she said.
“In just a span of three weeks, the wrath of five tropical cyclones, including a super typhoon, brought damages and landslides, wrecked crops, homes, businesses, but more than this, it took the lives of many Filipinos. However, the Duterte government did nothing but abused and exploited the term ‘Filipino resiliency’ as it forced the people to do the necessary actions in cognizance to the ‘bayanihan spirit,’” Castro said.
Castro added President Duterte and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources allegedlyjust let the mining and quarrying activities persist.
Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat also called to put to stop the construction of Kaliwa Dam and all large-scale destructive mining operations as she urged the government to prioritize people’s welfare amid the pandemic and disaster.
NOLCOM shift
The military’s Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) has shifted its disaster response operations in Region 2 to relief efforts as residents have been moved out of their flooded homes.
The relief operations were pushed on Monday as the government continued to send assistance to victims of Supertyphoon Rolly (international code name Goni) in Bicol region, with the Navy vessel BRP Tarlac leaving South Harbor on Tuesday for Catanduanes bearing relief items.
The shift to relief operations in Cagayan Valley came less than two days after the military dedicated a number of aircraft, manpower and rescue equipment in response to the worst flooding that hit the region in four decades.
Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of NOLCOM said that their “aerial reconnaissance over the weekend has showed that no more civilians remain stranded in roofs and other danger zones as a result of the concerted efforts between and among the LGUs [local government units], line agencies and security forces in evacuating and rescuing the residents.
“The delivery of goods is now your soldiers’ top priority,” Burgos said, clarifying that they are “ready to respond and perform rescue missions should the situation deem it necessary.”
Burgos said that several NGOs and partner-stakeholders reached out to NOLCOM, expressing their desire to donate basic necessities such as food, water and clothing for the victims of Ulysses in Northern and Central Luzon, while confirming that “more than 10 truckloads of relief packs for thousands of families have already reached Cagayan and Isabela provinces.”
The Navy’s BRP Davao del Sur will be sailing from Manila to Cagayan’s Sta. Ana Port to ferry more relief packages for the victims, while air assets are still currently deployed to monitor and deliver essential items to isolated areas, as well as perform medical evacuation in times of emergencies.
Burgos said that “soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will continue our close coordination with the Incident Management Teams, chaired by the provincial governors, to ensure that appropriate actions depending on the situation will be undertaken in the soonest possible time.”
Aside from Region 2, the NOLCOM is also currently performing humanitarian missions in Cordillera Autonomous Region and Central Luzon.
‘Bayanihan’ at DepEd
Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones has directed all field offices of the Department of Education, through their respective regional directors, to submit a list of teachers and personnel severely affected by recent typhoons Rolly and Ulysses to enable DepEd to fully assist them during these times.
“The entire DepEd family is one with the nation in the bayanihan efforts for our dear fellow Filipinos, who have been battered by recent calamities. In a span of days, areas in Bicol, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Cagayan Valley experienced tragic loss of peoples’ lives and their livelihood,” Briones lamented.
The DepEd noted that within the department, voluntary contributions from officials and staff from the Central Office, regional and division offices have been pouring in to help fellow Filipinos recover from these calamities and subsequently sent directly to the most affected schools.
“We are also committed to expedite the process of benefits for our staff and will facilitate smoother coordination with corresponding agencies. Recently, we are making headway in helping our personnel in getting the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and other private lending institutions’ calamity loan. The department will also provide provident fund emergency loans to the teaching and non-teaching personnel who were affected by the recent typhoons. We are also about to release the year-end bonus equivalent to one-month salary and P5,000 cash gift for our personnel,” she added.
On the learning materials side, the DepEd chief assured that they will release additional funding for the reproduction, or replacement of damaged self-learning modules.
“In addition, funds have been downloaded to provide hygiene kits and conduct cleanup drive and psychosocial first aid to affected schools. We also engaged our external partners to deliver donations directly to schools,” she said.
“Education has truly taken a hit from these calamities. And if we are here to revive it, our priority will be our passionate educators and learners. We shall overcome,” she vowed.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes