Roxas: Gov't, private sector help urgently needed as storm "Frank" batters Visayan provinces

Senator Mar Roxas called on the government and private groups to help in relief efforts in Panay Island and neighboring provinces, which have been battered and continue to be battered by tropical storm “Frank” over the past couple of days.

“I ask the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and of Interior and Local Government, as well as private individuals or organizations, to provide assistance to these areas in Visayas most affected by typhoon “Frank”,” the Senator and former Capiz representative said.

“The DILG should help the local governments under a state of calamity, while the NDCC and DSWD should look at temporary shelter, food and health needs of those whose homes were destroyed or are in flooded areas,” he said.

“If there are relief items to give, these should be sent to offices of the Provincial Governor or City Mayor,” he advised the public.

Roxas arrived in Capiz yesterday, Friday, for the opening ceremonies of a 15-megawatt diesel power plant in Panit-an, but this was canceled due to the bad weather.

The storm is still ongoing, and the affected areas are suffering from a power outage. Communication is limited, with little or no cellphone signal reception as well.

Aside from these problems, other areas such as in Iloilo province have been flooded, up to the second floors of many houses. Even with many volunteers, there is little transport available to them for them to participate in rescue operations.