Amid the massive flooding that hit the country the past two weeks, former President, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo called on the people to unite in this time of crisis and lend a helping hand to those who have been rendered more unfortunate by the non-stop onslaught of rains.
In a statement, Mrs. Arroyo, who trekked to her hometown in Lubao, Pampanga yesterday to personally distribute relief goods herself, expressed sympathy for the people who have fallen victims to the latest calamity to hit the country.
“Time and again, our resolve and strength as a people are being tested. We have been through another calamity. And I deeply commiserate with the Filipino people especially those who have lost their loved ones,” said Mrs. Arroyo.
“Let this be another occasion to show our courage to face all of life’s trials,” added Mrs. Arroyo, who is herself facing the biggest trial in her life having been charged by the government with at least two non-bailable crimes and other charges.
“We should unite as a people to help one another. And most importantly, we should not lose our faith in our Almighty. It is  through Him that nothing is impossible,” said Mrs. Arroyo who is out on a pass from her doctors at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center (VMMC). “God bless us all!” The former leader also issued a statement for her cabalens saying she is hurt more seeing her cabalens suffering from the devastation wrought by the massive flooding than the pains she is experiencing right now.
“The devastation caused by the rains sends a strong warning to humanity that we are very vulnerable to nature’s wrath and its destructive elements,” said Mrs. Arroyo. “It hurts me more to see my cabalens in this predicament, much, much more than the pains that I’m experiencing right now.”
The former president urged her provincemates to show strength and unity in confronting these challenges before them.
“There is nothing more potent than faith in God and faith in our attributes to withstand misfortunes such as this. Let us be strong. Let us fight. Wounds will always heal, anxieties will always cease, and sadness will eventually be replaced with glee,” Mrs. Arroyo said, adding: “Let us not cry but instead come up with solutions and actions to stand up once again.  Let us hold our hands together, thank The Almighty for sparing our lives and let’s get to work!” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay called on the public to heed the government’s advisories especially for evacuation to ensure that everyone will stay safe until the strong rains, winds and flooding subsides, citing the difficulties of government personnel and rescuers in evacuating areas when residents of several Metro Manila cities refused to leave their homes until the last minute.
“This is an uncanny situation, but we all know what will happen if we are not vigilant. We already witnessed the devastation brought on by Ondoy in 2009 and we do not want a repeat of that experience, ever,” Magsaysay said. “While there is no storm or typhoon warning, we already see what is going on around us, we should always prioritize safety over anything else during this time.”
Magsaysay stressed that while rescuers are doing all that they can to help residents in flooded areas, residents should also be cooperative to make the rescuers’ jobs easier.
“These men and women are heroes in their own right. Let us remember that these rescuers are risking their own lives and safety just to make sure that the residents will not come to any harm. Let us do them a favor and be considerate of their sacrifice. Let us listen to them because they have nothing but our safety in their minds.”
As rains continue to pour yesterday, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño appealed to the government and various non-government organizations to coordinate with each other for stepped up relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas.
Casiño also urged Malacañang to certify as urgent House Bill 5660 or the Free Mobile Alerts Act which would mandate mobile phone companies to provide free text alerts to citizens in calamity-stricken areas.
“It should be all hands on deck. Let us all work together to ensure that the flood victims are given immediate aid and support. We have asked our various Bayan Muna chapters in the affected areas to assess the needs of their communities and initiate relief efforts,” Casiño said.
Casiño also announced that Bayan Muna is now accepting donations of rice, clothes, canned goods, medicine and other relief items in its national headquarters at 45 K-7th St., West Kamias, Quezon City for distribution to various affected areas in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna and Bulacan.
He said HB 5660, if enacted, would cure existing problems in the government’s early warning system during calamities and the hit or miss suspension of work and classes.
The bill requires government agencies to facilitate the sending out of free mobile alerts, with telecom firms serving as tools for public information. In the event of an impending tropical storm, typhoon, floods, tsunami, or other calamities, mobile phone service providers are mandated to send out alerts at regular intervals as required by National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs) and other relevant agencies.
“With the bill approved, it will be clear that it is both the government and the telecom companies’ duty to send out free mobile alerts at the earliest time possible,” said the lawmaker.
He added that the alerts shall consist of up-to-date information from relevant agencies and shall be sent directly to the mobile phone subscribers located near and within the affected areas. The alerts shall include contact information of local government units and other agencies required to respond to the situation. The alerts may contain other significant information, such as, but not limited to, evacuation areas, relief sites and pick-up points.
The alerts, shall be at no cost, whether direct or indirect, to the consumers; and shall be included as part of the service providers’ auxiliary service. The alerts may be in the form of SMS (text messages), MMS, or email, as needed and appropriate. Also included in the bill are penalties for not sending out the alerts or sending out false information,” he explained.