Palace condoles with families of 'Pedring' victims

Malacañang on Wednesday extended its condolences to the families of those who perished during the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring. At the same time, Malacañang refused to engage in finger pointing for failing to achieve a zero-casualty target. "Gusto ho nating iabot ang ating pakikiramay doon ho sa mga nawalan ho ng kapamilya dahil ho doon sa nakaraang bagyo," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing. "Nag-e-extend ho tayo ng assistance doon sa mga na-injure through the local government units and through the national government," she added. Typhoon Pedring (international name: Nesat) exited to the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday evening. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council placed the death toll at 18. The figure, however, is expected to rise as reports are still being gathered from the field. For her part, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said 40,699 families lost their homes in 25 provinces in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, and 5. Soliman earlier said they have allocated P62 million in relief funds for the victims of Pedring. Zero-casualty policy Valte said the Aquino administration continues to have a zero-casualty policy during calamities to ensure that concerned agencies will do everything it can to save the lives and properties of the people. She said what happened Tuesday was force majeure or an incident beyond the control of anybody. "Ang tawag po natin dito is force majeure talaga eh. Kahit may paghahanda po tayo, mayroon at mayroon pong nangyayaring ganito," she said. "Iyong puwede pong gawin ng pamahalaan ay siguraduhin hanggang sa aming makakaya yoong kasiguruhan noong mga taong madadaan o maaapektuhan po ng mga ganitong kalamidad," she added. Likewise, Valte said it is not the time to point fingers. "Hindi po muna iyong panahon para magturo po tayo. Ang concerntration po natin really is how to get the lives of our people back to normal. And perhaps moving forward, iyong mga tao po muna iyong asikasuhin natin," she said. She said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) was able to provide accurate updates such as the projected position of the typhoon, its gustiness and speed. She said the local government units have been warned of Typhoon Pedring and the updates allowed the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Health to preposition food and non food supplies and medicines. PHL assistance to Japan quake, tsunami victims Asked if it was wise for the Philippine government to pledge $1 million to earthquake and tsunami-hit Japan when its own people are suffering the wrath of Pedring, Valte the country has enough funds to assist the affected local government units. She added Japan has been very generous to the Philippines in the past few decades and the assistance is way of thanking Japanese people for its previous help. "Iyong pagbibigay po ng assistance na iyon galing po sa ating mga Pilipino, pagpapakita lang po natin iyon ng ating pakikiisa dahil ho doon sa dalawang trahedyang pinagdaanan po nila. From what we have seen, the Japanese have been very appreciative of the assistance that was extended," she said. "And siguro po, we should not begrudge iyong pagtulong din naman po natin sa ibang bansa dahil tumutulong naman po tayo doon sa mga kababayan natin," she added. — RSJ, GMA News