PGMA INAUGURATES THREE VITAL PROJECTS IN ALBAY

LEGAZPI CITY — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated here and in two towns of Albay province three multi-million social and infrastructure projects including housing, water system, sea wall and coastal road today.

President Arroyo led the ground breaking and capsule laying ceremony of the P141-million rehabilitation work project of the Polangui Water System in barangay Napo in Polangui town.

The Chief Executive was assisted by Albay Governor Joey Salceda, Local Water Utilities Authority (LWUA) administrator Prospero Pichay, Albay 3rd District Representative Reno Lim and Polangui Mayor Jesus Salceda during the ground breaking.

Pichay said the funds for the rehabilitation project of the Polangui Water System were from: P12 million in pure grant; P12.5 million from a loan without interest while the remaining balance of P115,710,000 came from a loan with an annual interest of 9.2 to 10 percent.

Rehabilitation works will include setting-up of two water systems covering 11 villages in Polangui.

The scope of work includes rehabilitation of two existing reservoirs; installation of 24,148 linear meters of pipelines; 5,000 service connections; provision of a treatment facility; improvement of the existing Higiba spring intake and construction of a pumping station.

President Arroyo, at the ceremonial rites, also sent off 10 paramedics of the Albay Health and Emergency Management (AHEM) team to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to assist in the rescue and relief operation in Metro Manila that was severely affected by tropical storm "Ondoy" over the weekend. The team also brought a water purifying machine.

The Chief Executive also received from Salceda a P1-million financial aide to be given to Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III whose province was badly battered by "Ondoy".

President Arroyo also led the turnover of certificates of ownership of homes to 240 families displaced by typhoon Reming in 2006 as part of the CORE Shelter 30,000th milestone at the resettlement site in barangay Tagaytay, Camalig town.

The resettlement site is home to some 840 displaced families from the 16 villages of the municipality located within the high-risk areas of Mayon Volcano, which is presently is on a restive mode, and under alert level 2 status.

The 840 housing units - each built on a 80-square meter lot - are spread over an 145,185 square meter area bought by the local government of Camalig and developed by the National Housing Authority (NHA).

During the brief program, the President also announced that Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. will find the necessary funding for the construction of a school in the resettlement site.

The President proceeded to this city and inaugurated the P70-million sea wall and coastal road project in barangay Puro, this city.

President Arroyo, together with Gov. Salceda, Sec. Andaya, Mayor Noel Rosal and 2nd District Representative Al Francis Bichara drove through the 360-linear meter sea wall and corresponding 360 linear meters of road to include a walk way.

The coastal road network which stretches some 4.095 kilometers is envisioned to be the "Roxas Boulevard" in this city.

The Puro Seawall Phase I and II project was implemented by the DPWH with the Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, as the contractor.

President Arroyo also visited the Legazpi Grand Terminal which will be opened on Thursday. (MALoterte, PIA V)

SALCEDA PROPOSES P73-B ECONOMIC PACKAGE FOR ONDOY’s VICTIM

LEGAZPI CITY -- Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has proposed that government financing institutions (GFI) should grant a one-year loan repayment moratorium for members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Social Security System (SSS) to provide the members widespread economic relief against the havoc wrought by tropical storm Ondoy,.

“Once supply chains have been restored and survival needs have been provided, cash in the best form of social and economic relief after a disaster since victims know better their needs, beneficiaries would be more judicious in their procurement, benefit is direct and immediate,” Salceda said.

He said a comprehensive package of demand-side measures as a decisive response to mitigate the widespread social damage and overturn the potential economic drag of typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) as he cited the role of four major measures in succeeding to lift Albay from the ravages of two super typhoons (Reming and Milenyo) and Mayon eruption in 2006 to economic recovery 2007 onwards.

He said the proposed four economic measures are designed to inject liquidity into the system that has sustained both temporary disruption in their incomes and permanent damages to capital assets.

Under the proposal, the GFI would shell out some P73 billion in economic relief assistance with GSIS investing P4 billion; SSS, P28 billion; Pagibig, P15 billion; Philhealth, P4 billion; and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, P35 billion.

Of these, P34 billion will be for the direct benefit of households; P4 billion for health institutions; and P35 billion for small and medium entreprises (SMEs). And, all these would have minimal impact on deficit of the national government, Salceda averred.

The measure would also directly target and impact various households, Small and Medium Enterprises and other critical entities in National Capital Region (NCR) and the 27 provinces covered by the declaration of state of calamity.

The measure include, among others, one-year repayment moratorium in all salary and housing loans of GSIS (with 700,000 members in the affected areas) and SSS members (with 4.8m members (in the affected areas) out of 8-million members with outstanding live accounts nationwide) at a concessional 5% imputed interest thereafter easily worth almost P4-billion for GSIS and P28-billion for a total P32 billion. SSS members pay a monthly average of P600-P800 or P7,000-9,000 per year.

Salceda claimed that the measure is in lieu of current proposals by the two GFIs since, he explained that a global repayment moratorium is more pervasive and direct in impact - more take home pay, easier to execute - less effort for members and less paper work for SSS/GSIS and would allow the two institutions to keep within legislative ceilings on exposures to individual loans – both are now slightly above the ceiling and without unduly decreasing their actuarial viability.

SSS currently proposes an option of incremental P24,000 salary loans payable in 24 months worth P4.8bn assuming 200,000 members avail or a housing improvement loan for members with damaged houses of up to P300,000 worth P15 billion if 50,000 members avail.

GSIS, meanwhile, proposes an emergency loan of P20,000 payable in 24 months worth P5 billion assuming 350,000 members avail.

Another measure is an incremental home loan improvement of P150,000 for loan-eligible members of Pag-ibig which suffered damages to their homes which could reach P15 billion if 100,000 members avail.

Grant a three-month advance of monthly average reimbursement by Philhealth to its accredited outlets including DOH-retained hospitals, provincial hospitals, city health offices and RHUs which could reach P4 billion.

This helped Albay respond effectively to a surge in a morbidity rates after the disasters even while health facilities also sustained damages.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to set up a P35 billion five-year special rediscounting window for banks to refinance loan exposures to individuals, entrepreneurs and SMEs at 91-day T-bill plus 2 percent. (LGU-Albay/PIA)


SSC BULAN CAMPUS PRESSES SERVICES AUTOMATION

BULAN, Sorsogon — The Sorsogon State College (SSC) campus here is vying on an in-house automation by June 2010.

Dr. Antonio Fuentes, SSC president, has announced that an in-house development in automation was proposed by Bulan campus for 12 months which will start on June 2010.

Fuentes averred that the project which costs Php 800, 000.00 seeks to embark on academic and administrative information system modules in admission, advising, enrollment, cashiering, timetable, lecturer, registrar, human resource, and library.

“The project aims to design and build the structure of the system based on the college’s business processes and needs, implement modularized deployment, and develop an information system that is scalable and easy to maintain,” Fuentes added.

The SSC president also said that while in the process of refinement, feedback from the end users were gathered as basis for improvement. “The automation project, which is pioneered in the campus here, will eventually be cascaded to the rest of the campuses,” he also said.

The SSC automation program is envisioned to make the college attain full automation by May 2011. (SSC/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


‘’LET THEM GO HOME ON THE ONSET OF TYPHOON” – DOLE BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY – “Let them go home early.”

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol regional office here has advised companies and individual workers here, to take necessary precautions by sending home workers early on before the on-set of calamities such as typhoons in order to protect the lives and properties of both labor and management.

Ernesto C. Bihis, DOLE Bicol regional director, said that loss of life and limb can be prevented if employers would release their workers ‘early’ or even before the on-set of calamities.

“Let us learn from Typhoon Reming. Hundreds of employees were stranded in a mall in Legazpi for about two days,” Bihis explained.

It will be much safer and cheaper, Bihis stressed, for management, if their employees are dismissed early and are in the comforts of their homes during typhoons rather than be stranded at the workplace.

“If employees are stranded within the confines of the workplace, it will be the responsibility of the management to care for them. They (employers) must provide the basic needs during that time, including food,” he added.

Records show that after Typhoon Reming, about 90 per cent of establishments in Legazpi City are closing their shops even on a signal no. 2 advisory of PAGASA. This, the agency said, is perhaps the ‘best practice’ for a company.

“Legazpeños were traumatized of Reming. Nobody wanted to be caught off-guard, no establishment here wanted to have additional burden on their shoulders. As they say, prevention is always better than a cure,” Bihis stressed.

The agency suggests that establishments nationwide must adopt the practice of Legazpi City based establishments. It has also urged companies to have a Calamity-Emergency Response Plan (CERP) to ensure workplace safety, secure properties, ready first-aid kits, and for worst scenario cases identify escape routes, and if possible have a stand-by vehicle for evacuation purposes.

However, the agency clarifies that it has no power to order a closure during a calamity. Sending employees home during calamities or typhoons is the discretion of the establishment’s owners.

“We cannot force establishments to close down or tell them to let their employees go but we can try to convince them that it is probably the best and the cheapest way to survive a calamity. If and only establishments in Legazpi have released their employees sooner during Reming, then perhaps nobody was stranded,” Bihis ended.(RPEscalante, DOLE/PIA)

VERIFICATION AND GRIEVANCE SYSTEM SET UP IN 4Ps AREAS

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol field office here recently conducted an orientation on Compliance Verification System (CVS) and Grievance Redress System (GRS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The CVS was designed to monitor and provide feedback on the beneficiaries’ status relative to their compliance of the conditions as provided by 4Ps.

The conditions laid out are: to have a pre-natal and post-natal care for pregnant women and be attended by a skilled birth attendant during childbirth, parents and guardians must attend family planning sessions, mother’s classes and parent effectiveness seminars, children 0-5 years old must receive regular preventive check-ups and vaccines, children aged 5 years old must attend day care of pre-school classes at least 85 per cent of the time, and children 6-14 must enroll in elementary or high school and attend at least 85 per cent of the time.

The result of the monitoring will serve as the basis for the periodic payment of the cash grant. Non-compliance of the conditions would mean either deduction on the cash grant, suspension or termination from the list of grantees.

The teachers and the health personnel will have a vital role in the verification of the compliance of the conditions as mentioned.

Meanwhile the GRS aims to resolve grievance effectively and expeditiously in a transparent manner. It is intended to provide a venue for the beneficiaries and the public where all the queries and complaints will be responded. The GRS will also serve as a guide for the implementers and the partners who are directly involved in the implementation of 4Ps, how to handle and resolve grievance that will inevitably emerge.

Beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries can complain about non-exclusion, exclusion, payment received, and provision of education and health services, corruption or embezzlement, political abuse of power and complain about suspension or termination due to non-compliance of the terms and provisions.

The two-day activity was done in all the 4Ps areas in the municipalities of Esperanza, Balud, Cawayan, Placer, Monreal, Uson, Claveria, and San Pascual in Masbate province and Libon in Albay last week, September 14-18, 2009.

In attendance were the head of schools, teachers, nurses, midwives, doctors and other stakeholders on the first day while parent leaders of the beneficiaries and political leaders were given orientation on the second day. (SMU-DSWD/PIA)


PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH SIMULTANEOUS STORYTELLING

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) has spearheaded a nationwide storytelling event to promote peace.

All public elementary and high schools have committed to use peace-oriented tales during their English, Filipino or Edukasyong Pagpapakatao subjects.

Dubbed as Kwentong Pangkapayapaan: Mga Kwentong Binasa Mo, Natututunan ng Puso, the campaign supports Executive Order 570 entitled Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said “We harness education, seeing it is as one vital and effective tool for peace to take root, especially in areas where there is conflict.”

DepEd promotes reading stories about peace and understanding which can be engaging and enlightening to both young and old. They are among the department’s tool in building and nurturing a climate of peace in schools and communities.

He added “stories allow us to examine our attitude and prejudices and to turn our focus on the similarities rather than the differences.”

Lapus draws support from all stakeholders as the campaign aims to increase awareness and appreciation of creative and non-violent was of resolving conflict. The event also aims to facilitate in removing biases and prejudices against Filipinos in Mindanao.

Last year, DepEd enjoined the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and civil society representatives in drafting the implementing rules and regulations for Executive Order 570.

According to EO 570, DepEd will spearhead the mainstreaming peace education concepts, skills and values in the learning content of the basic education and alternative learning systems.

It is tasked to encourage and nurture local peace initiatives in schools, ALS local systems and communities and to organize peace education learning circles/teams in the region, division and school levels. (DEPED V/PIA)


SEPT. 30 A NON-WORKING HOLIDAY IN MASBATE

MASBATE CITY—Employees and students here will be treated to a vacation today as September 30 is a special nonworking holiday in this city.

The holiday was made official through Proclamation 1878 signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita which declared the 9th anniversary of Masbate.

This means there will be no work in private and public offices while classes will be suspended in all levels today to allow residents to take part in the celebration.

The celebration actually took off as early as Aug. 15 with Inter-Barangay Boxing Tournament. This was followed by a string of events, including sports tournament, social services, and environment care activities.

Among the activities scheduled by the city government today are a parade with street dancing, a Mass at the Masbate Cathedral and a late night party which will have Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno for main guest.

The focal point of the celebration, however, is the launch of the 200-hectare Mariculture Park in Masbate Bay, officials said in a statement.

On Sept. 30, 2000, residents ratified RA 8807 officially giving birth to a city named after the province of Masbate.

The new city, which also serves as the provincial capital, was composed of 30 barangays. In 2007, its population was counted at 81,585.

In the statement, City Mayor Socrates M. Tuason said the city’s “remarkable achievement” in providing services and infrastructure projects to residents would make the celebration much more meaningful. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)


PGMA thanks Albayanos for sending volunteers

POLANGUI, Albay – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today thanked the provincial government of Albay for sending to Rizal province a group of well-trained and battle-tested disaster workers to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of typhoon Ondoy.

“Thank you to all of you for responding to my call,” the President said as she led the send-off ceremony for 58 volunteers of Albay Composite Emergency Response Team (ACERT), dubbed as Albay’ elite disaster warriors, on the sidelines of the groundbreaking rites for the rehabilitation of the Polangui water system project.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the sending of ACERT volunteers to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in five municipalities of Rizal province is a simple return gesture of the people of Albay for the support the President has extended when the province was hardly hit by typhoon Reming years back.

“Madam President the people of Albay are responding to your call for national unity in this challenging period of suffering,” Governor Salceda said in his welcome statement.

He said ACERT is composed of 20 emergency paramedics, 10 water and sanitation personnel, and 28 search, rescue and retrieval personnel.

The team was trained by the provincial government using a P20 million, budget, P5 million of which came from the Department of Health (DOH) and P15 million from the province, Salceda said.

He informed the President that following the declaration of state of calamity in Metro Manila and other areas directly hit by Ondoy, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved the use of P1 million from its calamity fund for assistance to the towns of Baras, Tanay, Cainta, San Mateo and Rodriguez, all in Rizal province.

The check was personally turned-over by Governor Salceda to the President right after the ceremonial lowering of the time capsule signaling the start of the construction for the rehabilitation of the Polangui water system project at Barangay Napo here.

“Congratulations to all benefactors of this water project (sa mga makikinabang sa ating patubig dito),” the President said.

The rehabilitation of the Polangui Water System costs P140.7 million. Scope of work includes upgrading of the two existing reservoirs, installation of a 24,148 linear meters of pipeline, power line extension, installation of 5,000 service connections, improvement of treatment facility and the existing Higiban spring intake, and construction of a pumping station. (PIA V Release)


PGMA declares state of calamity in NCR, 27 provinces

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of calamity in the National Capital Region (NCR) and in 27 provinces in Luzon in the aftermath of devastation brought by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

The Chief Executive issued Proclamation 1891 on September 26, the day “Ondoy” hit most parts of Luzon and Metro Manila, so the national calamity fund under the General Appropriations Act could be disbursed.

Covered by the proclamation were the National Capital Region; Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and La Union in Region 1; Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela in Region 2; all the seven provinces in Region 3; Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon in Region 4 A; Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro in Region 4B; Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes in Region 5; Mountain Province, Benguet and Ifugao in the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

The Local Government Code confers upon the local government units the power to determine and declare a state of calamity in their respective localities but without a Presidential Proclamation, calamity funds could not be released.

The rains submerged entire villages, cities, municipalities and provinces under water, causing tremendous damage to life and property.

President Arroyo ordered all departments and other government agencies concerned to implement and execute medical assistance, relief and rehabilitation work.

As of 6 a.m. today (Sept. 30), the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that 373,675 families or 2,254,915 persons have been affected by the flooding.

The total number of casualties is 293 with 246 dead, five injured and 42 missing.

Estimated cost of damages is P4,792,309,020 with infrastructure damage pegged at P1.59 billion and agriculture P3.20 billion. (PIA V Release)


Volunteers pour in for ‘Oplan Sagip Bayan’

MANILA — Answering the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a total of 315 volunteers as of late Tuesday showed up at Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang to repack and distribute relief goods for the victims of typhoon “Ondoy” under “Oplan Sagip Bayan.”

According to Cookie Aydinan, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief of staff and overseer of the relief operations, a total of 3,000 relief packs were brought to Ever Gotesco in Quezon City, 1,000 packs to Taguig, 700 bags to the Tanay evacuation center, 500 bags to Montalban, and 600 bags to Taytay. About 1,000 bags were distributed in Malacanang.

Each bag consisted of food items such as rice, sardines, noodles and non-food items like clothes, towels, and blankets.

“It is unfortunate that misguided elements are spreading in the internet the canard that the volunteers are being paid,” said Aydinan. “It is not only untrue, it is unfair, unjust and cruel to the volunteers.”

Volunteers were mostly government officials and employees of PMS, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of the President (OP), and Office of the Press Secretary (OPS). Volunteers also came from schools such as Far Eastern University (FEU), Centro Escolar University (CEU) University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, San Beda College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), San Sebastian College, Philippine Normal University (PNU) and Juan Nolasco High School.

Joining the volunteers were presidential daughter Evangeline Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, presidential daughter-in- law Maria Victoria Manotok-Arroyo and her daughter Ebie, and the two daughters of Pampanga congressman and presidential son Juan Miguel Arroyo, Mikaela and Monique. Members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) ladies club, the spouses association of PSG officers and enlisted personnel, also went to Malacañang to help in the relief operation.

President Arroyo dropped by the relief center in the evening and personally thanked the volunteers. She was accompanied by PMS head Hermogenes Esperon.

“Oplan Sagip Bayan” is open 24 hours every day and will remain operation for as long as necessary. (PIA V Release)


Pagasa warns of new series of flashfloods, landslides as new storm nears; urges public to remain vigilant

MANILA — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of another series of landslides and flashfloods as a mightier storm roars in Pacific east and aims for northern Luzon.

"We cannot discount the probabilities (of landlsides and flashfloods) because we expect storms as strong as this to have devastating effects so we urge the public to be alert," Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa deputy director and weather branch chief, said.

"This is a slightly stronger storm (compared to Ondoy) because it carries strong winds," he added.

Tropical Storm Parma is currently whipping the Pacific some 1,040 kilometers East of Northern Mindanao, still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with maximum winds of 95 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 120 kph, and tracks west northwest at 22 kph.

Tropical Storm Ondoy left the country with 246 dead and P4.8 billion-worth of damage in infrastructure and agriculture. Hundreds remain missing.

Parma is expected to enter Philippine territory Wednesday afternoon and shall be named Pepeng once it does.

The Pagasa advised the general public not to let their guard down and come prepared when the storm makes landfall Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

Two more cyclones are trailing Parma, but Cruz called for sobriety as these are too far to have direct impact in the country.

Cruz said the effect of storm Parma will not be immediately felt.

But it continues to gather strength over the warm oceanic waters, its extreme impact probably can be expected Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, he said.

It will also enhance southwest monsoon as it comes near the eastern coasts of the country.

This disturbance, the 16th local tropical cyclone, is expected to enter the PAR.
The Pagasa issued warnings to shipping industry and fisherfolks against rough seas in the coming days.

The surge of the southwest monsoon is expected to affect the western seaboard of Luzon, the Pagasa said in its latest Gale Warning advisory.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. (PIA V Release)


PGMA underscores need for preemptive evacuation to avoid loss of lives

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today concerned government agencies to identify danger zones and prepare to implement preemptive evacuation to save lives in future disasters such the recent tropical storm “Ondoy” that left 240 dead.

“Somebody must be in charge of designating the areas,” the President stressed at the Cabinet meeting held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City today.

The President said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) must coordinate with Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils to effect the preemptive evacuation. She added barangay captains should make sure that people do not build houses on river banks.

She issued the order as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said that another tropical depression is likely to bring more rains on Thursday.

The new tropical depression may hit Northern Luzon before moving in the direction of Taiwan.

The military was also directed to pre-position equipment for rescue operation in disaster-prone areas

PGMA orders Cabinet members, gov’t agencies to speed-up relief and rehabilitation of typhoon victims

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains hands-on in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of victims of tropical storm “Ondoy.”

In today’s cabinet meeting at the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) office at Camp Aguinaldo, the Chief Executive received an update by her cabinet members on the progress of the rescue, relief and rehabilitation/ restoration operations as a result of the devastation caused by typhoon Ondoy. .

The President issued several directives to ensure the security, health, sanitation and cleanliness in the typhoon–stricken areas and to help typhoon victims go back to normal life.

It was noted that within the more than 600 evacuation centers, there is a strong possibility that health and sanitation problems will occur. Thus, the President ordered the Department of Health to lead in this endeavor by providing adequate health services.

The President also ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to mobilize barangay officials to look after the cleanliness of the evacuation centers in their area of responsibility.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque volunteered to hire 500 persons under the President’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to help in the clean –up of evacuation centers, waterways and drainage systems.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Emmanuel Angeles called on medical schools to deploy their nursing and medical students to help.
He said ROTC cadets and students taking up the National Service Training Program (NSTP) will be deployed to help in the clean-up of streets and schools.

President Arroyo is also set to issue an executive order that will declare a “Clean –up Day” within the week so everyone can help in the clean-up operations. This will be a non-working holiday.

The President also ordered the Philippine National Police to deploy personnel in abandoned areas to avoid looters from taking advantage of the situation.

Noting that many vehicles were damaged by the typhoon, the President ordered Trade Secretary Peter Favila to make representations with car companies, repair /service shops not to take advantage of the situation to increase their prices. (PIA V Release)