PCOO SECRETARY SONNY COLOMAs STATEMENT DURING THE PRESS BRIEFING Press Briefing Room, New Executive Bldg., Malacañang NOVEMBER 06, 2013 Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat. Good afternoon to our guest and friend from New Zealand, Mr. Jonathan Carson. Habang hinihintay ang pagpasok ng Super Typhoon Yolanda sa Philippine Area of Responsibility na tinatayang magaganap bukas, Huwebes, ika-7 ng Nobyembre, alas dos ng umaga, inatasan ng Pangulo si Secretary Voltaire Gazmin – tagapangulo ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC – na pakilusin na ang lahat ng Provincial and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils para makapaghanda ang mga mamamayan at makaiwas sa panganib. Hinihiling ng pamahalaan ang tulong ninyong lahat na mga peryodista, brodkaster at mamamahayag sa pagpapaalam sa ating mamamayan ng mahahalagang impormasyon. Ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulo na matamo ang layuning zero casualty sa ganitong kalamidad. Pansinin natin ang takbo ng Bagyong Yolanda, ito ang satellite image. Iyong satellite image, nasa kaliwa iyong kaaalis lang na Bagyong Vinta; nasa kanan si Yolanda. Sa pangalawang slide, mauunawaan natin kung bakit mahalaga ang maagang paghahanda. Kung matutuloy ang Bagyong Yolanda sa kasalukuyan niyang direksyon ay maaaring tamaan nang buong puwersa nito ang buong kapuluan. Ang hindi lang maaapektuhan ay ang dulong hilaga at dulong timog ng ating bansa. Areas to be hit simula po sa hilaga – San Fernando, La Union; at sa northeast naman – Casiguran, Aurora; down to Region III, Central Luzon; NCR or Metro Manila; Regions IV-A, CALABARZON; and IV-B, MIMAROPA; Kabikulan, Region V; buong Visayas at halos buong ka-Mindanaoan. Rescue boats and emergency relief and medical supplies have been repositioned in strategic areas. All concerned government agencies are on heightened alert to ensure swift response to affected residence especially those in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Our second topic is an update in Saudization. Based on the official report of the Department of Foreign Affairs, no Filipinos have been arrested in the crackdown in view of the implementation of the Saudization policy. As of November 6, a total of 4,587 Filipinos have been repatriated, while 1,433 are awaiting Immigration clearance, and 450 others are housed in temporary shelters where they are being provided with food, medicine and other basic necessities. According to official estimates of the Saudi Interior Ministry, there are approximately 660,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. Secretary Albert Del Rosario has authorized the hiring of Saudi lawyers to provide necessary legal assistance to any Filipino who would be arrested. The DFA and the Consulate General, as well as, Philippine Overseas Labor officers have formed teams that will visit jails, police stations and deportation centers to come to the aid of any Filipino worker that may be affected by this policy. A team led by Undersecretary Jesus Yabes of DFA and Parisha Taradji of DSWD are in Saudi Arabia to meet with concerned Saudi authorities, and to check the condition of undocumented Filipinos. Diplomatic representations are being made to ensure continued Saudi government assistance in repatriation efforts and protection of the rights of undocumented Filipinos. Ito na po iyong actions taken by the Department of Foreign Affairs. You’ll be given a copy of this summary. Our third topic is on the Hong Kong issue. In their meeting at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Brunei Darussalam last month, President Aquino and Chief Executive Leung agreed that the Philippines and Hong Kong will work to reach a mutually satisfactory closure on the issues arising from the Luneta hostage incident. As stated by Hong Kong officials, there are three other concerns aside from the matter of seeking apology from the Philippines. These are: compensation for the affected families; prosecution of those who were deemed responsible for the unfortunate outcome; and adoption of preventive measures. Both sides are working quietly to address these concerns and reach a mutually satisfactory conclusion.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 01:43:46 +0000
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