NEWSFLASH

KALINGA-APAYAO FOLK SEEK GOVT ASSISTANCE

Batasang Pambansa, Oct. 22, 1998 - Rep. Elias Bulut of Apayao and Rep. Laurence Wacnang of Kalinga are asking the national government for immediate assistance to their provinces which were devastated by supertyphoon Zeb (Iliang). They said thousands of their constituents could die of hunger unless food and other relief goods could be airlifted immediately.

The officials said at least seven towns and more than 100 barangays in remain isolated in their provinces. Bulut said Cabugao and Calanasan towns in Apayao had been isolated while Wacnang cited the towns of Balbalan, Tanuban, Tinglayan, Pasil and Labuagan.

``All isolated municipalities are in dire need of food due to lack of transportation of commercial goods,'' Bulut and Wacnang said. ``Electric poles and wires were blown down so that up now our provinces have no electricity.''

Damage to infrastructure and other government projects like roads, bridges, school buildings, irrigation systems, public markets and others could amount to hundreds of millions of pesos, they reported.

Apayao and Kalinga, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, used to be one province. Bulut then was the lone congressman for Kalinga-Apayao while Wacnang was the governor. Three years ago, Kalinga-Apayao was divided to form two provinces. Bulut is the congressman for Apayao, while Wacnang represents Kalinga.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, included Apayao and Kalinga in the list of nine provinces which he recommended to President Estrada to be declared in a state of calamity. The other provinces are Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Abra, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao.

Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi