Romblon finally placed under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — President Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the inclusion of Romblon in the list of provinces placed under a state of calamity following the devastation by typhoon Frank last month. Arroyo made the announcement during her visit at the Romblon National High School where she was briefed by local officials on the typhoid fever situation in the towns of Romblon and Odiongan and the diarrhea cases in the San Fernando town. This was the second visit of Arroyo in the central Philippine province since the onslaught of Frank. She visited Romblon’s Sibuyan island on July 2 and attended a mass for the victims of typhoon Frank and the MV “Princess of the Stars," which capsized off the island on June 21. Romblon Gov. Natalio Beltran III had initially sent a letter to Arroyo seeking the inclusion of his province in the calamity list "so that we can avail of whatever support and assistance that may be granted by the national government" for Frank-affected local government units (LGUs). Beltran said the provincial government was not able to immediately report their situation to the national government "due to total failure of power, transportation and communication systems" due to the typhoon, and their pre-occupation in assisting the rescue operations on the sunken inter-island passenger ship. Earlier in the day, Arroyo was in Calbayog to welcome the 76 passengers, composed of tourists, businessmen, balikbayans and residents of Samar province, that boarded the initial light of the low-budgeted PAL Express. PAL president Jaime Bautista aside from Calabayog, PAL Express would also have flights going to and from Virac in Catanuanes, San Jose in Occidental Mindoro and Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.# While in Calbayog, Arroyo ordered the release of P478 million for the rehabilitation of the160-kilometer Guiuan-Taft section of the Eastern Samar coastal road. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) director and former Cabinet Official for Regional Development (CORD) for Region 8 Gabriel Claudio said the Eastern Samar national road stretches all the way from Guiuan, the southernmost municipality of the province, to the municipality of Arteche in the north. "Samar also has the qualifications of being an eco-tourism destination and a model for bio-diversity," Arroyo said adding that Samar Island has what it takes to match the tourism attraction of other provinces in the Visayas like Bohol and Cebu. Arroyo also presided over the National Disaster Coordinating Council-Cabinet group meeting in Placer in nearby Masbate island despite an earlier landmine explosion, believed to be handiwork of the New People's Army (NPA), some three to four kilometers away from their location. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. and Presidential Security Group commander Brigadier General Celedoño Boquiren said the President opted to proceed with meeting rather than be intimidate by the NPA attack. Andaya said they had been informed about the indent but "all took the journey going here" adding that they were aware that Masbate is part of the Albay Region which is "NPA-infested". Boquiren said normal security preparations had been adopted adding that the incident could be the NPA's way of discouraging Arroyo from proceeding to the town or areas where they have their units. Dureza said Arroyo, however, was undaunted as she "practically brought the full force of her government to a far-flung and typhoon-struck area in Masbate." He added that landmine explosion and clashes between the military and rebel forces are results of the tactical maneuvers of the Armed Forces aimed at flushing out NPA from Masbate area. Police Official 3 Romulo Balolot of the Placer Police Station, in an interview, said an improvised land mine exploded along Barangay Ban-ao in Placer around 3 a.m., but no one was hurt. Balolot said police were able to recover shrapnel and wires that were used with an electronic device to detonate the explosive material in the blast site. - GMANews.TV