Bayanihan Key to Effective Disaster Response in Typhoon Ompong Hit Areas

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A day after typhoon Ompong made a landfall in the province of Cagayan, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade reported to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that the restoration and rehabilitation efforts of the DOTr in all affected airports, seaports and terminals are now underway.

 

During the Presidential Briefing held at the Cagayan Provincial Capitol today, 16 September 2018, Secretary Tugade estimates around PhP35 to 40 Million worth of damages incurred in infrastructure alone, primarily in Tuguegarao Airport.

 

Immediately after Ompong’s landfall, the Transportation Chief inspected Tuguegarao Airport, and found out that the baggage carousel area and other offices of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) were badly damaged. Meanwhile, the runway, ramp and other navigational equipment are all functional. Secretary Tugade said it will take until Tuesday for the Baggage X-ray scanner to be repaired or replaced.

 

While rehabilitation works are ongoing, Secretary Tugade requested from the public their patience and understanding. 

“Manu-mano po muna tayo sa pag inspeksyon ng mga bagahe kasi X-ray scanner ang nasira. Importante po iyan para sa security ng mga sasakay na pasahero pero gagawan po natin iyan ng paraan”, said Secretary Tugade.

 

The Transportation Chief likewise noted that there is a proposal to utilize Lal-lo and Cauayan Airport in case repairs at the Tuguegarao Airport will take longer than expected, with Point to Point buses to address inconvenience.

 

Meanwhile, reports coming in from Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) confirm that all seaports in the Northern Luzon area such as Curimao, Aparri, Batanes, Salomage and Sual among others reported no damage and are now operational.

 

Land transportation also immediately resumed leaving all bus terminals with a few to none stranded passengers.

 

Importance of Bayanihan and Pre-emptive Information

Amid adversity brought by Ompong, Secretary Tugade highlighted the importance of teamwork or “Bayanihan”. 

Tugade was tasked by President Duterte to oversee the planning, preparation and rehabilitation in Cagayan, the Secretary’s hometown.

 

It can be recalled that Secretary Tugade, along with DOLE Secretary Slvestre Bello III and Presidential Legal Adviser Francis Tolentino, prompted a regional command conference to adequately prepare the local government with the impending disaster.

 

“Mr. President, the decision to send us here is a very wise decision. Malaki po ang impact nito sa morale ng local government at ng mga tao kasi alam nilang nandito ang national government, naniniwala at sumusunod ang mga tao. Kahit nandiyan ang banta ng bagyo, laban lang kasi andito tayo”, Sec. Tugade said.

The DOTr Chief visited various evacuation centers in Cagayan where he was reunited with a relative from Claveria town. Though he empathizes with the plight of those who have to leave their homes, the secretary said it is the only way to value life and avoid casualties in times of disaster.

 

Secretary Tugade said, “Dapat ho ang evacuations centers natin kumpleto sa mga kagamitan at secured din.”

 

Secretary Tugade added the importance of pre-emptive information which was proven to be very helpful. He believes that if the public will be bombarded with timely information, they can efficiently organize themselves to safety.

 

“Silipin natin iyong anunsyo. How do we communicate? We care for our people and we want to save lives. Iyong compliance and obedience ng civilian population, iba ho. Sana iyong experience na ganyan can be replicated”, Secretary Tugade said.

 

Further, the private sector also extended their help. Local carriers such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines instantaneously offered a missionary flight which will enable rescue and relief operations reach Tuguegarao and other nearby provinces. Bus companies and other organizations offered the use of their vehicles to transport relief goods to affected areas.

Energy Facilities Damage Assessment and Restoration in Full Swing - Cusi

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today (16 September) announced that the agency-led Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) is now on full swing to assess the damage incurred and to respond to the energy needs of the areas hit by Typhoon Ompong. 

According to Sec. Cusi, the energy family mobilized its personnel to do a thorough assessment of the power and oil facilities affected by Typhoon Ompong.

Earlier, the DOE chief announced that immediate power restoration efforts are aimed at government institutions, particularly those involved in emergency response such as barangay halls and city centers, hospitals, evacuation centers, and other vital installations in the affected areas.

Based on the 12:00 noon report of the TFER:

On power generation, the National Power Corporation (NPC)-Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) reported that the diesel power plant (DPP) in Sabtang Island in Batanes incurred no damage and was restored at 8:39 a.m. today after line clearing of the Batanes Electric Cooperative (BATANELCO).

NPC-SPUG also reported that there are no operations on the following DPPs due to assessment, clearing and restoration activities: Cagayan and Apayao area (Calayan, Minabel & Balatubat, and Kabugao); Isabela and Aurora area (Palanan, Maconacon, and Casiguran).

NPC’s dam update indicates that water spilling operations were still on-going at the Ambuklao Dam with water level at 751.25 meters above sea level (masl) against normal high water level (NHWL) of 752masl, the Binga Dam with 574.83 masl vs. NHWL of 575masl, the Magat dam with 186.5 masl vs. NHWL of 193masl, the Maris dam with 103.22 masl vs. NHWL of 107.75 masl, and the San Roque dam with 287.15 masl vs. NHWL of 280 masl. Meanwhile, the Angat water reservoir has not opened its spill gates.

NPC makes certain that said discharges will not cause flooding in the flood warning zones, and are being most carefully conducted to maintain normal water levels in the reservoirs. 

For the transmission sector, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that it restored 78% of affected transmission lines in Regions I, II and CAR. On-going restoration for the remaining 32% which services Abra, Apayao, Cagayan, Kalinga, Mt. Province, and parts of Isabela.

For the distribution sector, the National Electrification Administration reported that as of 8:00 a.m. Sunday, a total of 23 electric cooperatives experienced line trippings and damaged distribution facilities across Luzon.  Initial estimated cost of damage on electric cooperatives alone was at PhP100,600,000.00.

The regions being served by the following electric cooperatives (ECs) are affected: 

*ECs ongoing restoration:

• Region I (5 ECs): INEC (Ilocos Norte), ISECO (Ilocos Sur), LUELCO (parts of La Union), PANELCO I and III (parts of Pangasinan) 

• Region II (7 ECs): BATANELCO (parts of Batanes), CAGELCO I and II (Cagayan), ISELCO I and II (parts of Isabela), NUVELCO (Nueva Vizcaya) and QUIRELCO (Quirino Province)

• CAR (5 ECs): BENECO (Benguet), MOPRECO (Mt. Province), ABRECO (Abra), KAELCO (Kalinga-Apayao) and IFELCO (Ifugao)

*ECs are Restored:

• Region III (4 ECs): AURELCO (Aurora), ZAMECO I (Zambales), NEECO II-Area 1 and 2 (parts of Nueva Ecija) and TARELCO I (Tarlac). 

• Region IV-A (2 EC): BATELEC II (Batangas) and FLECO (Laguna) 

With existing EC resources such as personnel, available supply and materials, the following timeline is possible specially for INEC and CAGELCO II:

• Government and commercial centers within seven (7) days

• Main line within seven (7) days

• 80% of HH within three (3) weeks

• 100% of HH within one (1) month

• With minimal damage to the EC's distribution system in three-five (3-5) days period everything is restored

Under the areas served by the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), all circuit level outages are already restored. 

MERALCO reported that around 15,000 to 20,000 customers or 0.23% to 0.30% of its total customers are already undergoing restoration, mostly on service drop or household levels within the franchise area.

For the downstream oil sector, the DOE- Oil Industry Management Bureau’s states that based on its monitoring of the oil companies, there is sufficient supply of petroleum products, with stocks ranging from 2 to 15 days, depending on the area.

The DOE calls on oil industry dealers in flooded areas, or those who lack supply to report their status to OIMB Director Rino Abad at 09177057754 and OIMB Asst. Dir. Rodela Romero at 09175560750. 

For the implementation of price freeze, Cagayan province has already declared a State of Calamity. The declaration triggered the price freeze on household LPG and kerosene products which will be enforced for 15 days upon said announcement.

The DOE reminds the public to take extra precautionary measures in dealing with electrical appliances and components (wirings, sockets and downed posts, among others) to protect themselves from electrical hazards like electric shock or short circuit.

“The public’s safety and security is our primary concern. Let us all be vigilant and aware of what is happening in our surroundings. Let us all do our part in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe,” Sec. Cusi concluded. 

PH Goes to Fukuoka Asian Film Market

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines is for the first time represented as a delegation to the Neo Cinemap Fukuoka Asian Film Market 2018 this September in Fukuoka, Japan. Led by the FDCP's Philippine Film Export Services Office (PFESO), the country is taking part in this market hub for professionals in the Asian film industry and projects in development.

The Philippine Film Export Services is hosting a country booth from September 18-19, 2018 at Nishitestsu Inn, Fukuoka featuring FilmPhilippines, the country's Location incentive program to promote the Philippines as a filming destination to foreign production companies and films from the Philippines that are looking for international sales and distribution in Japan and other Asian territories.

Featured Production Companies
Present Filipino production companies in the Market include TBA Productions, The IdeaFirst Company, VYAC Productions, Aim High Productions, and Man Overboard Productions which are showcasing their best films that are ready for distribution in Asian territories such as Birdshot, Bliss, Born Beautiful (in Post-Production), Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, Distance, Dormitoryo, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, Heneral Luna, I’m Drunk I Love You, K’Na The Dreamweaver, Patintero: Ang Alamat ni Meng Patalo, Iisa, Gasping for Air, Smaller and Smaller Circles, SundayBeauty Queen, Tandem, Water Lemon, Women of the Weeping River.

"We're so proud that the Philippines is continually exposed to film markets which develops the industry side of our Cinema. These are exciting platforms for our filmmakers and producers to find audiences outside the Philippines and explore partnerships particularly here in Japan. Because of the continuous promotion of Philippine cinema here and the increasing opportunities to screen our films to Japanese audiences, some Filipino films like Die Beautiful, Ma Rosa and Birdshot found screening opportunities in commercial theaters here in Japan last year. Last August, Neo Manila (with ‘Midnight Assassins’ as its Japanese Title) had its Japan theatrical release in selected theaters as well. That’s a great start and we hope that the momentum continues here in Fukuoka," said FDCP Chairperson Liza Dino.

Project Pitching

Also happening is the Neo Cinemap Project Market, a co-production market where Filmmakers can present their ongoing project ideas and plans to meet possible co-producers or supporters for their projects.

Everybody Leaves by Phillis Grande and Alem Ang, and Daku Balay by Ria Limjap are the Filipino projects selected to be featured for pitching this year. A special requirement of this pitching is projects need to have elements of Japan and part of the requirement is shooting their films in the country.

Neo Cinemap Fukuoka Asian Film Market runs alongside the Focus on Asia Fukuoka Asian Film Festival from September 14-19, 2018 where the Philippines is this year's Country of Focus.