Imee seeks help from OCD, DOE for Egay-hit Ilocos Norte

Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday appealed for help from the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Energy after Ilocos Norte was hit hard by Typhoon Egay.

During the Kapihan sa Senado, Marcos said they evacuated around 2,000 people on Wednesday night as the bridges in the province were submerged in water and there were landslides in several parts of the province.

“Nananawagan kami ng tulong sa OCD pati sa DOE na tulungan kami maibalik ang kuryente sa lalong madaling panahon dahil ang entire province walang kuryente,” said Marcos, who once served as governor of the province.

[We are appealing for help from the OCD and the DOE to help restore power as soon as possible because the entire province has no electricity.]

Marcos said she cannot give a figure on the damage brought about by the typhoon as most of the province is still flooded.

While the typhoon signal was downgraded in the province, Marcos said the province is still suffering from the aftermath of Egay.

Marcos also disclosed that three out of four missing individuals in a quarrying site in Dingras, Ilocos Norte have been found.

Right now, Marcos said residents from Ilocos Norte, as well as, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Isabela, and La Union are already being assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

After she made the appeal, Marcos also stressed the need for better management of quick response funds to government agencies in the annual budget.

She likewise pointed out the need to reduce the “slush items” in the budget of the DSWD.

“Dati talagang naging biruan na ang mga flood control projects kasi yung mga talagang nangangailangan ng flood control hindi nabibigyan. Samantalang ‘yung mga lugar na hindi naman nagbabaha eh siya ang may flood control,” Marcos said.

[There is a joke saying that areas not needing flood control projects are being given one while those areas not really experiencing flooding ae being given flood control (projects).]

“Natutukan na rin ‘yan. ‘Yung flood control naging rock-netting, naging road safety signages…kung ano-anong pakulo. Siguro tutukan na natin at bawasan na natin itong mga tinatawag na slush items sa DPWH at sa buong budget at tutukan na ang napakatinding problema ng climate change,” she added.

[The flood control had become rock-netting, road safety signages and what have you. Maybe it’s high time we focus on this and reduce the so-called slush items in the DPWH ... we should focus on the problem of climate change.] — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News