President Rodrigo Duterte has created a new inter-agency task force dedicated for Typhoon Ulysses’ response efforts of the government. This task force, according to him, will streamline the government’s response and rehabilitation efforts to address Filipinos in need of dire assistance.
In his televised speech on Saturday, November 14, Duterte said he has imposed a timeline to finish rehabilitation efforts, cutting red tape along the way to aid faster response.
“I directed them to streamline para madali ‘yong rehabilitation efforts affected by the typhoon. Pangalawa, itong task force ng different agencies. Lahat itong halos ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno kasali dito… binibigyan ko sila ng timeline para gumawa ng mga hakbang na ‘yan na walang delay at i-cut yung red tape para mabilis ang takbo ng tulong sa tao,” Duterte said.
[All of the agencies are in the task force. I gave them a timeline for them to make steps ensuring there will not be any delay in the distribution of aid.]
The address was aired after reports of severe flooding submerged towns in Cagayan Valley, with residents trapped and desperately appealing for help overnight.
