DROP OFF AID AT EVAC CENTERS. NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad urges donors for Mindanao quake victims to drop off their donations at incident command posts and evacuation centers in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday (Nov. 5, 2019). Jalad said among the basic relief items needed by the quake victims are food, shelter materials, shelter kits and items for infants. (PNA photo by Priam Nepomuceno)
MANILA -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday urged donors who want to help victims of the series of quakes in Mindanao to give their donations to incident command posts (ICPs) or evacuation centers for proper distribution.
"We are encouraging the donors to drop their donations at the ICP of the province or to the evacuation centers, not along the highways para wala na pupunta sa highway (so no more quake victims will flock to the highways). All help should be given (at the) evacuation centers," NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said during a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Interested donors are also requested to give shelter materials, shelter kits, items for infants, food and other basic needs, the NDRRMC chief said.
As of Tuesday, Jalad said the agency has distributed 47,000 family food packs coming from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The NDRRMC chief also reiterated that the country is still capable of addressing the effects of the Mindanao quakes.
"The management of the effects of the earthquakes and the relief operation are still within the capability of the Philippines. We can still handle it, there is no necessity to call for international assistance but we are grateful to these countries who have expressed their readiness to assist as well as those who have already provided donations," he added.
He said the challenge at the moment is ensuring the efficient and orderly distribution of relief goods and management of evacuation centers.
"(This) will be done with collaboration among local government units and various national government agencies. The next challenge will be ensuring the transition of people affected to early recovery," Jalad said.
Meanwhile, Jalad said they received information that the New People's Army is taking advantage of the situation to shame the government by deploying some of its supporters to beg on highways for relief goods and highlight the alleged delays in disaster relief operations.
"Well, it's not yet validated but the information (says) it is the NPA. But galing sa mga tropa natin (coming from our troops), it's just to shame the government. Kasi may distribution naman ng pagkain dun sa (There is food distributed at the) evacuation centers. Kung wala talaga silang pagkain, alam naman nila kung saan 'yung (If they really do not have food, they know the location of the) incident command post. Nandun 'yung mga stocks ng pagkain, eh di sana dun sila nagpunta (The food stocks are there. They should come there)" Jalad said.
Jalad also said he finds it odd that a huge group of people is begging together when it is more practical for them to move separately or singly to gain more ground. (PNA)
