Torres urges calm in difficult situation

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is urging the community to lengthen their patience as the local government and its federal partners try to sort things out and get the islands back to normalcy in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.

Long lines of cars can be seen in gas and water refilling stations, and even in some stores and laundromats, as residents try to get back to their daily lives despite the difficult situation with power and water supply restoration expected to take months.

“It has been hectic in gas stations with the long lines. We talked to Mobil and Shell, they are opening up as much as they can. As you know, they also incurred a lot of damage,” Torres said in a press conference yesterday that was aired by KSPN.

“So, patience is needed. If you don’t need to be on the road, stay at home because the more traffic you bring out there, the more chaos that you bring to everybody. Go home, do some cleaning as you can and only travel if you need to.”

He added that this is the time for everyone to keep their emotions in check and always let cooler heads prevail. There were reports that fights have resulted in some gas stations, with some trying to cut in line just to get ahead.

“Again, we cannot blame Mother Nature with the frustration that we have right now. A lot of our gas stations are also [affected] during the typhoon. They [Mobil and Shell] are getting those gas stations up and running.”

“So your patience and understanding is needed. This is the time to be patient and understand that they [Mobil and Shell] want to open up their gas stations as early as possible but fortunately it is coming day by day.”

Torres has also signed an executive order declaring a price freeze after a declaration of significant emergency and state of major disaster following the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.

Prices of gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, natural gas, and all other chemical fuels, whether gaseous, liquid, or solid form; food items including water, beverages, and ice; clothing; flashlights, lamps, lanterns, candles, light bulbs, and other means of illumination; generators, cables, wires, electrical batteries of every sort, and similar equipment for generation and/or transmission of electrical power; all appliances used in storage and/or preparation of food, including but not limited, to stoves, barbecue grilles, ovens, refrigerators, and coolers; tools typically used for construction, ground clearing or home repairs, whether electrically or chemically powered, or manual, including, but not limited to, saws, machetes, hammers, drills, shovels, rakes, and brooms; and all bedding items, including pillows, futons, and blankets are frozen.

“This price freeze shall last until rescinded or until the declaration of emergency or disaster are terminated, whichever comes first,” said the memorandum that was released Saturday.

MD: Torres asks for calm in difficult situation

KW: Yutu, Ralph Torres, gas, fuel, disaster, typhoon