Acting governor of Albay asks DTI for price freeze

Acting governor Glenda Ong-Bongao of Albay asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enforce “price freeze” in the province as the delivery of food, petroleum products and supply of clean drinking water is running low following as transportation from Metro Manila to Bicol was delayed due to impact of flooding in the region’s Maharlika highway.

Bongao asked the DTI to enforce the price freeze to protect and stabilize the prices of basic commodities in Albay province badly impacted by Tropical Storm Kristine including the province of Camarines Sur.

As of presstime, Albay province specifically Legazpi City is experiencing shortage of petroleum products including food supply as the deliveries of goods from Metro Manila was halted following the unpassable road network due to high flooding since October 22, to date.

Truckers remain stranded in the province of Camarines Sur due to severe flooding caused by tropical storm Kristine. Both unleaded gasoline and diesel are among the fuels with inadequate supply in Legazpi, the Bicol Region’s capital hub.

Among the gas stations in Legazpi with running out of petroleum products were Shell Gas Station along Rizal Street without unleaded available, Petron Gas Station also in Rizal Street without fuel available but with long queue of motorists; the Caltex Gas Station in Peñaranda was closed; the Petron Gas station in Gogon was no available unleaded and diesel and the Jetti Gas Station along Tahao Road is also running out of stock.

Groceries and bakeries in Legazpi City also complained of no delivery of supplies and floors from the National Capital Region while safe drinking water supply is also limited in hard hit areas of Albay and Camarines Sur as sources of water were affected by flooding.

Bongao also asked the Department of Agriculture to check the prices of agricultural products and work closely with DTI to ensure the stability of prices and food supply.

Bongao met President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Naga City on Saturday where the province of Albay provided P50 million financial aid for relief efforts.

The President flew to Naga City and visited the town of Nabua and met some local officials that sustained massive flooding from Super Tropical Storm Kristine.

During a situation briefing in Naga City, the President released P50 million to Acting Albay Governor Glenda Ong-Bongao and P30 million to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion from the Office of the President.

For her part, Bongao said over 92,000 families in Albay have been affected by Kristine and need more food aid.

“Maraming salamat po, Secretary (Gatchalian). Nakapagbigay na po ng mga 33,000 but sa dami po niyan, we are asking more or less 60,000 na food packs,” she said.

Thank you very much, Secretary (Gatchalian). We have already given about 33,000 but of that amount, we are asking for more or less 60,000 food packs,” she said.

The acting governor of Albay presented the situation report of the Albay province. In her report to President Marcos, Bongao highlighted the extensive damage across the province, noting a total of P1.39 billion in damages to roads and bridges.

The typhoon left 3,203 partially damaged houses and 571 homes destroyed across 18 local government units. Agricultural damages have been estimated at P10.1 million.

The provincial government has allocated a quick response fund of P46,540,583 to address the immediate needs of approximately 92,022 families affected by the storm.

Bongao expressed gratitude to President Marcos for extending a hand to the Albayanos.

“I, on behalf of the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA), personally received a donation from the Office of the President amounting to 50 million pesos. This amount is intended for relief operations and other post-calamity-related expenses,” she said.

“I instructed the APSEMO, PSWDO, and Local Finance Committee to coordinate with the 18 LGUs of Albay regarding the utilization of this donation. Rest assured that the PGA will be transparent on various donations for the PGA. Mabalos po, President Bongbong Marcos, for this assistance,” Bongao said.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the DSWD is delivering 35,000 food packs to Naga City.

“So, today (Saturday) we’re delivering 8,000, mamayang gabi another four, so 12. And then, we’ll be finished with another – one to two days tapos na ho ‘yung buong 35 [thousand],” Gatchalian said during the briefing.

He said the food packs will be sourced from DSWD’s regional warehouses, with the agency and the city coordinating on additional support as more supplies arrive from Manila and Cebu.

The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol reported that 473,920 families or 2,236,608 Bicolanos were affected by TS Kristine. Currently 75,952 families or 288,978 persons inside the 4,378 evacuation centers.

While 28,479 families or 104,153 persons outside the evacuation camps. Kristine left 24 deaths in the Bicol Region specifically from Albay, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Naga City. While two fishermen missing. – BY RHAYDZ BARCIA