Juan leaves 10 dead, destroys P1.5-B crops By Mario J. Mallari 10/20/2010

Juan leaves 10 dead, destroys P1.5-B crops

By Mario J. Mallari 10/20/2010
Super typhoon “Juan” left behind at least 10 persons dead and damaged rice crop ripe for harvest estimated at least P1.53 billion as it roared toward the China Sea yesterday afternoon, a level of casualty and damage that President Aquino said was “not significant” and a reason not to regret his failure to show up during the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meeting the other day to map out preparations for the typhoon.

Aquino said he decided to focus on other matters instead of “engaging in rehearsed photo opportunities and idle chit-chat” by attending the NDRRMC meeting, but speculations were raised that Aquino, a late riser, failed to get up on time to make it to the meeting.

Aquino, in a prepared statement, said he was “very pleased” with the level of preparedness shown and the actions taken by the respective government agencies concerned when “Juan” unleashed its strength and left with no significant amount of damages to lives or properties during its wake.

“We got the job done. We proved that, together, we can mitigate risk; and that Filipinos working together, minimized the costs of natural disasters,” Aquino’s statement read by his spokesman Edwin Lacierda indicated..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101020hed1.html