Malinao, Albay Mayor Lenybelle Santos
MANILA – The municipality of Malinao in Albay is eyeing to construct relocation sites for typhoon-affected residents as another storm threatens the Bicol region, Mayor Lenybelle Santos said on Tuesday.
"Hanggat hindi po natin sila naililipat sa maayos pong matitirhan, ganito rin po ang mangyayari everytime na tatamaan po tayo ng bagyo (Unless we move them to safer shelters, this will happen every time the typhoon hits us)," Santos said during a Laging Handa press briefing.
"Kaya 'yun po talaga ang panawagan ko sa national government na sana makita nila 'yung pangangailangan po ng maliit na bayan namin dito po sa (I'm appealing to the national government to pay attention to our needs of our small town here in) Malinao," Santos added.
Apart from in-kind donations, Santos said the local government will be needing construction materials for the repair of damaged houses.
Santos said the municipality is still reeling from the destruction brought by Super Typhoon Rolly (International name Goni).
"Actually (we are still) under rehabilitation pa rin po kami ngayon hindi pa rin po kami nakakatapos sa aming (we are not yet finished with our) final report kung ano pa talaga yung mga total damages ng aming (as to the total damaged in our) infrastructure and agriculture and yung mga (including) totally damaged houses and partially damaged houses dito po sa bayan ng (here in) Malinao," she said.
Residents hit hard by "Rolly", she said, are currently staying in several day care centers and barangay halls.
"Dahil po limitado lang po ang mga evacuation centers dito sa Malinao, nag stay din po sila sa (Since we have limited evacuation centers here in Malinao, we let them stay at the) daycare centers, health centers, multi-purpose hall, and barangay hall po ng kada barangay in each barangay)," Santos said.
Santos, meanwhile, thanked LGUs, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and other private organizations that have been helping their residents deal with the aftermath.
To date, electric power in the municipality is yet to be restored, Santos said.
Santos said the local government along with the provincial government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have already prepared agricultural programs for Malinao residents whose primary source of living is farming.
Farmers will be provided with free seeds to help them rebuild their livelihood hit by the typhoon.
Santos assured that minimum health standards are strictly observed in providing assistance for the typhoon-hit residents.
As preparation for the possible landfall of another typhoon forecasted to hit Bicol, Santos said the local government has started to impose forced evacuation among residents.
Residents will be moved to some school buildings which were converted as evacuation centers. (PNA)
