What gov't is doing in Tacloban

MANILA - Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras on Monday gave an update on the ongoing relief operations in Tacloban City. Speaking to media, Almedras said relief operations are still concentrated in Tacloban City since it had the highest number of casualties in the wake of super typhoon "Yolanda." "The situation is bad and the devastation is significant. In some cases, the devastation has been total. What we mean by total, there are barrios and sitios where everything has been absolutely toppled, island communities so negatively affected," he said. Almendras said the biggest challenge at first was how to bring the relief goods to Tacloban since the only way to get to the city was by air. He said that by Sunday afternoon, San Juanico Bridge is already open and people can go straight to Tacloban by land. The Cabinet official said some 140 tons of relief items were brought to Tacloban. He said a Department of Health team has arrived in the city to bring medicine and give medical attention to residents. Almendras said there is more than enough rice - about 3 million sacks - in the affected areas. He said the National Food Authority is repacking the rice to bring them to affected residents. ANC, November 11, 2013