Arroyo calls for massive relief efforts to help Leyte disaster victims

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered on Friday massive rescue and relief operations "coming from land, sea and air" to help the victims of landslides in Southern Leyte. The President also appealed to the private sector and concerned Filipinos to help. Mrs. Arroyo assured the people of Southern Leyte of government support in a televised round table discussion in the government owned NBN-4 with Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council chairman Avelino Cruz and NDCC executive director Glenn Rabonza. "The full resources of the government are being harnessed to bring the biggest possible rescue and relief resources to you the fastest way possible," Arroyo said. "Our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Southern Leyte today…Let's all pray for those who died and are affected by this tragedy, let's unite in prayers for our country," she said. The President also made a telephone conversation with Southern Leyte Governor Rosete Lerias. Through a cellular phone speaker, Lerias made an appeal to the President who allowed her to air her pleas. Arroyo expressed her condolences to Lerias for the deaths of her constituents and said she would try to visit the province on Saturday. The President said she ordered the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy, and the Armed Forces in the Visayas to rush to the shores of the affected province. The Navy ships, she said, would also serve as floating hospitals and command centers for relief and rescue. "All able-bodied seamen aboard these naval assets will be involved in these activities," Arroyo said. A ship belonging to the Aboitiz Foundation in Cebu will be filled with rice and food from National Food of Authority and would set sail within 24 hours to Leyte. The President also directed Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque to ship medicines and medical personnel to the affected areas. All land-based military assets under the Army's 8th Division covering Samar and Southern Leyte, were also directed to redeploy to the nearest staging area for rescue and relief operations. It was learned that three helicopters from the Air Force’s 505th Search and Rescue Wing are now in the area to help deliver relief goods, rescue survivors and survey the damage. Lerias also requested geologists to conduct an aerial survey of the area to which the President promised to send a team today. Arroyo urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to act immediately to make Mahaplag-Sogod national highway in the province passable to motorists. She also ordered the Army's Engineering Brigade to ensure the link to Mindanao would be opened. TORRENTS OF COMPASSION AND AID The President appealed to the private sector to help the government in the rescue and relief operations as she thanked the outpouring of support from "people from all walks of life" as well as from local and international groups. "The people of Southern Leyte should brace for a torrent of a different kind; aid and compassion that will come from our countrymen," she said. She thanked the Philippine Mining Safety and Environment Association for organizing miners to assist in the rescue operations as they did in Aurora and Quezon two years ago. Cruz also cited the GMA Kapuso Foundation, McDonald's, and drug company Pfizer for their assistance. HOTSPOTS Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz said the danger of more landslides in Southern Leyte remains. He said the average rainfall for the past 30 years in the area in the last four months is just 127 millimeters. However, he said that from February 1 to 16, the rainfall in the area reached 500 millimeters. Cruz said, the mountainside was so water-logged that it caused the landslide. Northeastern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, including Leyte and Samar, and Quezon, Aurora and Cagayan provinces in Luzon are considered at most risk from massive rainfall, storms and flooding.-GMANEWS.TV