U.S. AID: Senator Mar Roxas (second from left) welcomes United States troops aiding in relief efforts for the provinces in the Western Visayas, which was hardest hit by typhoon “Frank.” The Senator is active in relief and rehabilitation efforts in Aklan, Capiz, Antique and Iloilo, and has discussed with local officials short-term and long-term plans for the provinces to recover. With Roxas is (left) Vice-President Noli De Castro and Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, the civil relations commander of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). [Philippine Senate photo]

PIA 2008/06/24

Manila (24 June) -- Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, with Vice-President Noli de Castro, flew to Iloilo early to assess the health situation in the provinces and determine the extent of damages caused by typhoon 'Frank".

Latest update from the Department of Health (DOH) revealed that the Western Visayas region was the most affected by "Frank" in the country.

According to Duque, Saday municipality in Negros Occidental experienced a tornado resulting to 16 totally-damaged houses and 83 partially-damaged ones.

In Iloilo, barangays Simon, San Roque, and Iping were flooded, a dam in the municipality of San Miguel was heavily damaged. Likewise, bridges in Cabatuan and Maasim were also heavily damaged. Kamandag Elementary School in the municipality of Leon was damaged due to landslide.

In the province of Antique, Sibalum municipality was hit by a flashflood, Antique to Iloilo road was closed. Most of the evacuees were staying in churches.

Duque added that in Guimaras, two still unidentified persons were missing and five pump boats were damaged. Aniway District Hospital and Federico Roman Tirador Hospital were flooded. Patients in the said hospitals were transferred to the Labunan District Hospital.

The health chief reported that drugs, medicines, and other supplies worth P471, 437.55 were sent by the DOH central office to Western Visayas to augment the supplies of the province. On the other hand, the DOH regional office in Western Visayas distributed medicines, oral rehydration solution, and compact foods in evacuation centers.

The DOH Western Visayas team is continuously monitoring the situation. A 24-hour operations center was activated and regular updates are sent to the DOH central office and to the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

In Metro Manila, 2,603 families were relocated in 22 evacuation centers as a result of flooding brought about by typhoon 'Frank'. A rapid health assessment and surveillance was immediately conducted. A regional disaster and response plan, alongside retained regional hospital disaster and response plan, were activated.

The DOH Center for Health Development in Metro Manila also prepared and distributed health advisories on communicable diseases to affected barangays. (PIA-MMIO)

6/25/2008 Alimodian, Iloilo - Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro inspects the extent of damage brought by Typhoon 'Frank' in the Municipality of Alimodian in Iloilo City. The typhoon ravaged the city's vital infrastructure facilities such as the Macapagal-Syjuco bridge which was inaugurated only four years ago. Photo courtesy of Egay Montaña / Office of the Vice President

PIA 2008/06/24

Iloilo City (24 June) -- The victims and local officials in the city and province of Iloilo were grateful for the immediate relief goods given by the national government during the visit of Vice-President Noli de Castro in this city yesterday who represented President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

VP de Castro assured typhoon victims and local officials that the national government is doing its best and working fast to help and rehabilitate situation of victims as well as infrastructure and agriculture damages.

He said as soon as final assessment is done, the government will propose budget for immediate implementation and rehabilitation.

VP de Castro was with Senators Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon, Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

VP de Castro visited the municipalities of Pavia and Sta. Barbara, heavily affected by the typhoon and turned over relief goods. He then proceeded to La Isabelita Hall of Jaro Cathedral which was turned into an evacuation center for families affected in the district of Jaro, Iloilo City. He also turned over boxes of meal packs for the evacuees in the city.

After meeting the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 6 (RDCC VI), VP de Castro motored to the towns of Alimodian and Leon, Iloilo to inspect the extent of damages of the Nichol's Bridge and Puga Bridge, respectively, which were heavily affected. The Nichol's Bridge was built under the President's Bridge program.

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said his agency is urgently responding to the situation.

Duque said P500,000 worth of medicines was set aside for typhoon-hit areas in the region. He is also activating the surveillance units of the Department of Health and the Rural Health units to be vigilant in providing advisories and needed medicines to address waterborne diseases and concerns of sanitation.

As of 4 p.m. of June 23, the RDCC VI consolidated report showed that casualties in the city and province of Iloilo reached 10. In Iloilo, the estimated damage to infrastructure is estimated P73.30. (PIA)

6/25/2008 Alimodian, Iloilo - Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro inspects the extent of damage brought by Typhoon 'Frank' in the Municipality of Alimodian in Iloilo. With the Vice President are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Leon Municipality Mayor Romulo Cabana. Photo courtesy of Egay Montaña / Office of the Vice President

PIA 2008/06/25

Iloilo City (25 June) -- Food supply, dry clothes, medicines and potable water are among the stuffs needed by the people who were badly hit by typhoon "Frank," said Vice-President Noli de Castro as he appealed for assistance from the public.

"Tumulong na kaagad tayo para sa ganoon ay mapakinabangan kaagad ng ating mga kababayan," said VP de Castro in an MBC-Manila interview today.

It will be recalled that Vice President de Castro was here yesterday to conduct an inspection and assessment of areas badly hit by the typhoon, and likewise led the distribution of relief goods.

As of press time, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council reported that 461,757 persons were affected, 130 persons dead, injured-29 and 117 missing.

Houses totally damaged were recorded at 14,826 and 20,726 families are in the evacuation centers.

The Iloilo PDCC report further disclosed that the town of Janiuay has the number of deaths at 24, followed Tigbauan- 16; Pavia- 12; Leganes- 6; Alimodian- 4; Cabatuan- 4; Sta. Barbara- 3; Tubungan- 2; and Igbaras- 1.

For Infrastructures, Iloilo suffered P15,800,000.00 losses; while P427,005.35 for agricultural crops, livestock and fisheries.

The Province of Iloilo is now declared under the state of calamity through Resolution No. 2008-120, and shall now adopt and implement mitigating measures: On Population: to extend financial assistance or conduct immediate relief operations to the needy local government units as priority dictates; On infrastructures: to provide immediate rehabilitation of provincial roads and other provincial infrastructures; On agriculture: to provide immediate rehabilitation programs in food production and livelihood assistance for affected farmers and fisherfolks; and on health: to provide immediate health services to affected people and rehabilitation of health facilities and infrastructures (PIA/T. Villavert)

6/24/2008 - VICE President Noli De Castro leaves the La Isabelita Hall of the Jaro Cathedral turned-evacuation center for families affected by Typhoon "Frank" in Jaro district, Iloilo City during his June 23 visit in Iloilo. The Vice-President together with Senator Mar Roxas, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque and DSWD Sec. Esperanza Cabral turned-over meal packs for the evacuees. (PIA)

PIA 2008/06/24

Iloilo City (24 June) -- Food suppy, dry clothes, medicines and potable water are among the assistance needed by the people who were badly hit by typhoon "Frank" said Vice Pesident Noli De Castro.

"Tumulng na kaagad tayo para sa ganoon ay mapakinabangan kaagad ng ating mga kababayan" said VP de Castro in his appeal for assistance from the public.

Vice President de Castro was in Iloilo City yesterday to conduct an inspection and assessment of areas badly hit by the typhoon and likewise led the distribution of relief goods.

The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Coordinating council reported that 461, 757 persons were affected. House totally damaged were recorded at 14,826 and 20,726 families are in the evacuation centers.

The Iloilo PDCC report further disclosed that the town of Janiunay has the most number of deaths at 24, followed by Tigbauan 16, Pavia 12, Leganes 6, Alimodia 4, Cabatuan 4, Sta. Barbara 3, Tubungan 2 and Igbaras 1.

For infrastructure, Iloilo suffered P15, 800,000 losses while P426, 005.35 for agricultureal crops, livestock and fisheries.

The province of Iloilo is now under the state of calamity through Resolution No. 2008-120 and shall now adopt and implement mitigating measures. On population: to extend financial assistance or conduct immediate relief operation to the needy local government units as priority dictates; On infrastructures: to provide immediate rehabilitation of provincial roads and other provincial infrastructures; On Agriculture: to provide immediate rehabilitation programs in food production and livelihood assistance for affected farmers and fisherfolks and On health: to provide immediate health services to affected people and rehabilitation of health facilities and infrastructures. (PIA-MMIO)

VICE President Noli de Castro, Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque inspect the Nichol's Bridge that collapsed due to Typhoon "Frank" in Alimodian, Iloilo, during his recent visit in the province. The bridge was built under the President's Bridge program. (PIA)

PIA 2008/06/27

Iloilo City (27 June) -- Pag-IBIG Fund is now offering calamity loan for members residing in Panay who were affected by typhoon "Frank".

Pag-IBIG 6 Regional Manager Ma. Lourdes Uy said they have already started accepting applications from members whose areas have already been declared under the state of calamity since Tuesday.

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council 6 reported that the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique and Capiz as well as Iloilo City have already been declared under the state of calamity by their respective local government units.

Uy said qualified members can borrow as much as 80 percent of their Pag-IBIG savings payable over a period of 24 months. Members with outstanding Multi-Purpose Loan can still avail of the loan.

To expedite the process, Uy advised offices and companies to assign an authorized person who would request for the forms and their respective Fund Coordinator to submit the applications directly to the nearest Pag-IBIG office.

Vice President and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Director Noli de Castro directed the Fund to expedite the processing of applications for calamity loans as part of the government's massive relief operations for the typhoon victims.

VP de Castro was in Iloilo last June 23 to assess the devastation caused by typhoon "Frank" that caused disastrous flood in the province.

Some P1.5 billion allocation was immediately approved by Pag-IBIG through its Chief Executive Officer Romero S. Quimbo for these calamity loans for typhoon victims in the Visayas region. (PIA)

VICE-PRESIDENT Noli de Castro inspects the extent of damage of the Nichol's Bridge in the municipality of Alimodian during his visit to Iloilo, June 23 to assess the damage brought by Typhoon "Frank" in the province. The bridge was constructed under the President's Bridge program.(PIA)

PIA 2008/06/27, by Jemin B. Guillermo

Roxas City (27 June) -- Capiceños could already avail of calamity loans from the Pag-Ibig Fund starting Tuesday.

Vice President Noli de Castro announced during his visit to Capiz this afternoon, June 26, that the Pag-Ibig Fund has already set aside some P1.5 billion for its members throughout the country to avail of the calamity loan.

De Castro said that starting Monday, June 30, Pag-Ibig members in Western Visayas could already avail said loan.

Capiceño members and those from Aklan and Antique could process also their loans on Tuesday while Iloilo members could access their loans on June 30, he said.

Aside from de Castro, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza, Senator Mar Roxas and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Raul Bañas were also here in Capiz for a briefing on typhoon Frank aftermath.

Capiz Governor Victor Tanco, Congressman Antonio del Rosario and Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo, together with 16 town mayors, were among the top officials of Capiz who welcomed the national dignitaries here. (PIA)