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New People's Army halts armed offensives in 'Pablo'-stricken areas

By AMITA O. LEGASPI and SIEGFRID O. ALEGADO, GMA NewsDecember 10, 2012 1:21pm

(Updated 3:55 p.m.) The communist New People's Army (NPA) on Monday announced a suspension of armed offensives in two southern Philippine provinces devastated by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) last week.

The typhoon left nearly 650 people dead and caused at least P7 billion in damage to crops, property, and infrastructure.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA's parent organization, said on its website that “[i]n light of the urgent humanitarian considerations, the NPA can suspend offensive military operations against the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] for a period of time.

“The responsible organs of the Communist Party, the NPA and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will issue more authoritative and detailed orders on this matter,” it added.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) noted that Pablo has affected more than five million people in 30 provinces. At least 1,482 people were injured and 780 remain missing, while 100 fishermen are feared lost between Mindanao and Indonesia's Sulawesi island.

Army division commander Major-General Ariel Bernardo told Reuters he believes that many NPA rebels, which are actively operating in the hardest hit provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, were also affected by Pablo.

"We heard the rebels had declared an informal ceasefire, we welcome that because we can all concentrate on helping typhoon victims," Bernardo told Reuters.

"I believe many of these rebels were also affected and could be in the shelter areas."

As of Monday morning, the death toll from Pablo was pegged at 647, and the damage to infrastructure and agriculture at P7.116 billion.

No to the 'truce'

In a text message to GMA News Online, however, AFP spokesperson Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the military will continue conducting security operations “which is a fulfillment of our constitutional mandate."

“Negative on the truce [with NPA]. On their declaration of suspension of offensives – if they really want peace and stability for our country for unhampered progress and development, they should completely abandon the armed violence which continue to harm our peace loving citizens,” he added.

“Their continued extortion activities, use of improvised explosive device and ambush of government soldiers/public servants are causing destruction to infrastructures, facilities and loss of innocent lives.

“Instead of being part of the problem, they should become part of the solution by embracing peace."

The CPP has asked international donors to send their assistance to the various people’s organizations engaged in calamity and disaster work, to ensure that aid reaches the victims directly.

It blamed the Aquino administration for allowing big mining operations in the affected areas to continue “despite the widespread damage these have caused on the environment which subject the people in lowlands to calamities.”

NPA guerrillas have been battling government forces in various parts of the Philippines for decades.

Bernardo said he had ordered troops to shift from combat to relief operations, and to help deliver food and rebuild communities. Government soldiers have also restored links to isolated communities so that food and other supplies can reach the victims.

Agricultural toll

The banana and coconut industries in Pablo-devastated areas will take months or even years to recover, an agricultural economist said on Monday.

“It will easily take two years for the problems to be fully addressed by coconut farmers, while banana farmers may take nine months at the fastest to recover,” economist Rolando Dy of the University of Asia and the Pacific said in a separate interview with GMA News Online.

The main problem for banana and coconut growers is “money for inputs,” Dy said. “Most of those affected are small- and medium-scale farmers, most of which do not have crop insurance. The problem is where to get financing,” he added.

Noting that there “is no Band-aid solution” for the problem, Dy said “the best way to help the farmers is provide aid to jump-start rehabilitation or provide loans with long grace periods and low interest.”

The damage to farms has put the government's 4.3 percent to 5.3 percent farm output target “in danger,” Dy added.

Farm damage has so far been estimated at over P8 billion, but banana growers have claimed costs of over P11 billion in their sector alone.

Typhoon Pablo has devastated at least 14,000 hectares of banana plantations in the southern Philippines.

While there are still no estimates for the scope of damage to coconut farms, the Agriculture Department has said typhoon Pablo will have an impact on coconut oil exports.

State of calamity

On Saturday, President Benigno Aquino III declared a state of national calamity due to Pablo.

In Proclamation 522, Aquino cited the devastating rain, floods and flash floods in parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "[T]he declaration of a State of National Calamity will hasten the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector, including any international humanitarian assistance, and will effectively control the prices of basic goods and commodities for the affected areas," the proclamation read.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the United Nations are continuing their appeal for help as humanitarian agencies ship food, water, medicines and shelter material for more than 5.4 million people affected by the storm.

At least 11 bridges and nine roads remained impassable, while 21 cities and towns are still experiencing power outages.

Among the worst-hit areas were 50 provinces, towns and cities in Southern Luzon, Central Visayas and Regions 10, 11 and Caraga.

After plowing through Mindanao and Visayas, Pablo headed out to sea but turned back toward the Ilocos area in Northern Philippines, where it eventually weakened and dissipated by Monday morning. — With Reuters/VS/BM, GMA News

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