Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday noted that relief response seems to take long to reach some areas hit by Typhoon Nina.
A day after returning from a family trip in the United States, Robredo began a week-long visit to Bicol region in Camarines Sur, her home province. On Tuesday, she went to the towns of Ocampo and Pili, part of the district she represented in Congress.
Asked for her observations, Robredo noted that assistance seemed slow, adding that some areas have received only relief from her office, which has sent help to at least 10,000 families in 145 barangays in the province.
"Sa tingin ko medyo mabagal, mabagal iyong galaw," she said during an interview in Ocampo.
"Ngayon magbababad tayo dito, iyong mga nakausap ko naman ang nakarating pa lang sa kanilang tulong galing sa amin. Hindi din sapat kasi mas gusto natin na mas long-term sana ang solusyon na maibibigay," she also said.
In Ocampo, she noted that electric posts are still down on major roads, and that it was a bit "unusual" that only less than half of the power supply has been brought back—a matter she sought to disuss with the electric cooperative later that day.
She also said residents of Ocampo need assistance for shelter and agriculture, a matter she said she hopes to help bring before national government agencies.
'Sustainable'
Robredo, who was criticized for being in the US when Nina hit the region, said her week-long visit in Bicol is meant to assess needs to help find "sustainable" assistance for those affected.
She said she hopes to make up for her absence during the onslaught of the typhoon.
"Siguro kung mababalik lang mas gusto ko na nandito ako. Pero making the best out of the situation, hindi na mababalik, pero bumabawi tayo. Asikasuhin... iyong buong staff naman natin, noong wala ako, talaga namang, walang napabayaan," Robredo said.
She also noted that they are shifting from relief operations to rehabilitation, eyeing sturdier housing for residents.
"Iyong lahat ng nagbibigay ng tulong pinapakiusapan natin na kung puwede shelter materials na, pero iyong gusto natin mas maayos na ayos. Hindi iyong magbibigay lang ng nipa, shingles. Gusto sana natin kapag nag-rebuild sila, ito ang rebuild na mas mabuti. Hindi iyong bawat sakuna sila din ang nasisiraan ng bahay," said Robredo, former chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
She said she also intends to visit schools that were once more damaged by the typhoon.
"Gusto naming tignan kung bakit nangyari ulit iyon kasi ayaw nating nagsasayang ng resources ng gobyerno. Kasi gusto natin na kapag tayo nag-rebuild talagang build back better kasi otherwise parang kawawa talaga iyong mahihirap kasi pare-pareho din iyong nabibiktima, pare-pareho iyong nasisiraan ng bahay, pare-pareho iyong nawawalan ng tirahan, pare-parehong eskuwelahan ang nasisira," she said.
Latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that damage to both agriculture and infrastructure in the Philippines has so far reached P5.183 billion.
Broken down, damage to agriculture was recorded at P4.130 billion, while damage to infrastructure—roads, bridges, river control, health, and school facilities—was at P1.053 billion.
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