DILG steps up disaster management operations in Quinta aftermath DILG steps up disaster management operations in Quinta aftermath By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan, Friday 28th of December 2012 MANILA, Dec. 28 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has stepped up its efforts to coordinate the delivery of government services in Western Visayas as it continues to assess the damage resulting from the onslaught of tropical depression “Quinta.” In a statement, DILG Undersecretaries Rafael Antonio M. Santos and Austere A. Panadero said they have instructed DILG Region 6 Director Evelyn A. Trompeta to continue working with the local government units heads in the region to obtain reports on the impact of Quinta in their respective jurisdiction. Santos said initial reports coming from the DILG regional office said that four persons were confirmed dead while 2,431 families were affected by Quinta. He added floods also left roads in Capiz impassable such as the Mambusao-Jamindan Road, Dao-Manhoy-Cuartero Road, and the Pototan-Duenas-Zarraga road-impassable. Santos said there is no power supply in Capiz, Aklan, as well as in the second, third, fourth and fifth districts of Iloilo province. He added search and rescue operations and evacuation are ongoing in the towns of Dumalag, Dao, and Mambusao in Capiz. The Armed Forces of the Philippines also sent choppers to assist in this rescue. Santos said the DILG will continue to monitor the situation in the Panay Islands even if the rains had stopped and floodwater subsided. He added it is important that the DILG gets regular updates from the field so the government can deliver the necessary assistance to them. In the same manner, the DILG wants to gather information on the damage to property, especially public infrastructure, so the department can relay this to the Department of Public Works and Highways, Santos said. He also said the reports gathered from the DILG regional office would be used to request assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development for relief goods as well as the additional manpower and equipment from the Philippine National Police. He added that the Department of Transportation and Communications is also ready to send additional search and rescue support from the Philippine Coast Guard. (DILG/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR) CABATUAN AIRPORT Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2012 Cabatuan.com Austere Panadero (Bookmark this page for future reference)