Duterte orders creation of task force for Rolly, Ulysses response

President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Saturday the creation of an inter-agency task force to streamline the government’s response following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses.

“Ang gobyerno natin ay gumagawa ng mga patakaran na para matulungan, makabangon 'yung tinamaan ng epekto ng typhoon. Kaya, gumawa ako ng hakbang, creation of a task force,” Duterte said in a televised address.

“I directed them to streamline, para mapadali ang rehabilitation efforts [for those] affected by the typhoon. Pangalawa, 'yung isang task force ito ng different agencies ay halos lahat ng mga ahensiya sa gobyerno kasali dito,” he said.

Duterte made the statement following the massive floods which have crippled the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela widely believed caused by the release of water from Magat Dam.

The President said the task force will be given a timeline to layout plans ensuring that response and relief operations will not be delayed “at i-cut ‘yung red tape para mabilis ang takbo ng tulong sa tao.”

“Sa madaling sabi, gusto ko ‘yung task force na magbigay kaagad ng relief assistance sa affected na mga tao,” Duterte said.

“Ewan ko kung ano ang gagawin ninyo, task force, kung ano man ‘yan ay gawin ninyo at ako na ang bahala kung sakali man meron dito, puwede o hindi... puwede lahat gawain na lang ninyo,” he said.

The chief executive said the Philippine Coast Guard, Army, and Navy are being deployed for search and rescue in submerged areas.

Ulysses caused widespread flooding with its heavy rains, from Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Metro Manila and Region II, when it crossed Luzon on Thursday.

Isabela Governor Rodito Albano on Saturday said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB eight towns in District 1 in the province were flooded.

Albano said the flooding needs a long-term solution. He said he will suggest to Duterte to strengthen the engineering brigade of the military.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba on Friday said 156 barangays from 24 out of 29 areas in the province were flooded.

Marikina City in Metro Manila was also heavily flooded after the Marikina River overflowed its banks.

Isabela, Cagayan and Marikina have been placed under state of calamity.

Rolly meanwhile caused devastation when it pounded the Bicol Region, Southern Tagalog and other parts of Luzon on November 1. —KG, GMA News