Typhoon disasters and its subsequent relief operations, its dispatch and tardiness depends on the president. In 1949 the leadership of President Elpidio Quirino, who became successor president on April 17, 1948, two days after the death of President Manuel Acuna Roxas, was shown. His decisiveness resulted in his election as president. Here is the portion of the President’s Monthly Review Report:
“ALL-OUT relief for the typhoon-stricken victims of Cebu, Negros Occidental and other affected areas in the Visayas was ordered rushed by President Quirino on November 2. With the Philippine National Red Cross, PRATRA, Philippine Air Force, Social Welfare Commission and other agencies collaborating, medical and social welfare personnel, and some 9,000 pounds of medical and food supplies were immediately transported aboard two PAF planes to Cebu and Negros Occidental. Executive Secretary Teodoro Evangelista announced that relief goods would continue to pour into all typhoon-stricken areas until requirements of sufferers would be met.”
President Quirino showed what a president should do, in times of disaster, this is what he did during the Cabinet meeting:
“DURING the Cabinet meeting November 11, President Quirino authorized the allocation of ?250,000 for the immediate relief of typhoon victims in the Visayas. The President directed Commissioner of the Budget Pio Joven to release the amount immediately; he also directed Commissioner of Social Welfare Asuncion Perez to collaborate with the Philippine National Red Cross and other government relief agencies in bringing succor to the typhoon-stricken areas.”
President Quirino and his team handled suavely the complaints on the failure of the Weather Bureau, now known as the PAGASA, here is how the Presidential Palace explained it:
“CLARIFYING reports in some sections of the press to the effect that Weather Bureau officials might face a probe due to alleged neglect in issuing advance warning of the disastrous typhoon that hit Cebu, Director Casimiro del Rosario reported to Executive Secretary Teodoro Evangelista November 3 that the WB issued out a warning ten hours ahead. Dr. Del Rosario explained that the practice of his bureau is to give typhoon warnings 24 hours in advance. Due however to the peculiarities of the storm that hit the Visayas, he said, WB officials were able to give the warning only ten hours ahead. Incidentally, this particular typhoon left in its wake a toll of no less than 585 persons dead or missing, destroyed some 30,650 houses and rendered 194,519 homeless, according to consolidated report issued by the Philippine National Red Cross.” attypauloaminal@yahoo.com