Philippine agencies hold emergency meeting on flooding

Aurea Calica in the Philippine Star: Government agencies will hold an emergency meeting to discuss flooding in various areas of the country following the onslaught of typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday the agencies would include the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Power Corporation (Napocor), National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Valte said Malacañang would also not block any attempt by the legislature to investigate the issue of whether dam managers followed proper protocols when they released water during the onslaught of typhoon Pedring early last week.

Most residents in flooded areas of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Tarlac are reportedly blaming dam managers and local officials for allegedly not giving them enough warning with respect to the volumes of water that would be released from their gates at the height of the typhoon.

Valte said the administration would not coddle anyone if there were indeed lapses in the release of water from the dams that caused massive flooding in the provinces, especially in Bulacan. She said Malacañang would check whether protocols were strictly followed in the release of water from the dams.

Valte said President Aquino would not ask allies in Congress to not hold an investigation if they deemed it necessary. But quoting a report from the DILG, Valte said residents were given enough information by local authorities, although some of them just refused to leave their homes. “Sufficient warning was given and the DILG is coordinating with the local government units (LGUs) to ensure that the warnings are getting through, are being carried out, and are being acted upon,” she said....

Typhoon Nesat in the Philippines, shot by Amckern, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license