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Exclusive Interview with
His Excellency Bp. Arturo Bastes,
Bishop, Diocese of Sorsogon

May 3, 2009 – Sunday

Q: Bishop Bastes kumusta po ang inyong lugar diyan na idineklarang na nasa state of calamity dulot ng bagyong Dante?

A. So far ito po ang nalaman naming, 18 dead sa barangay kubo Magallanes, Sorsogon of the 18, 12 bodies were recovered, mga anim ang hindi pa narekober at saka mahirap ang magbigay ng relief goods because the area is heavily affected by the strong storm dangerous for the rescue team kasi they used small fishing vessels to go the coastal barangay kaya hanggang ngayon ay mahirap pa ang pagbibigay ng mga relief goods kaya kawawa talaga ang mga tao sa barangay kubo Magallanes, Sorsogon. Magallanes still isolated because of the landslide in  lahong luban and several barangays in the provinces are still isolated because of the flash floods and soil erosion especially dahil dito sa mga infrastructures for example, ang tulay ng madarag sa Ginlahon, Sorsogon is impossible as of the moment ang barangay Labao, Irosin the bridge collapsed isolated so also no relief goods yet with one dead child and several houses wash out, so many passengers stranded sa port of
Matnog, Port of Bulan, Port of Pilar and we do not know yet the exact number of people because the Vessels can not sail yet and there are no buses and impossible for them to proceed to Manila so ang provincial at municipal government are ready to do relief operations but because the Barangays are effected areas they have to reach them, mayroon namang effort pero as as now, because it’s still raining and then the landslide but because of the isolation very hard to give them relief.

Q. Ano po ang moral and social teachings po ng simbahan sa mga ganitong sitwasyon bishop?

A. Siyempre naman with the source of a moral obligation, kaya i was speaking to our own radio first asking for prayers especially for the souls have died and also for the families victims of this flood whom  we can not really help yet because of the situation kaya I was asking everybody to donate what ever they can for giving concrete help not only prayers but this is our moral obligations.

Q. Sa mga kapanalig po natin Bishop na nais pong tumulong sa inyo paano po sila makikipag-ugnayan bishop?

A. Idudulog lamang po nila sa Sorsogon Social Action Center, doon sa Padre Likop Hall and just bring it to the Chancery of Sorsogon because our Social Action is quite busy now, in fact my Social Action Director Fr. Rene Mabute is going around to see also the extent of the damage and i have to stay here because of this situation, we are calling for help specially the National Government since they know that we declare the state of calamity, the national disaster  coordinating council should really come, maybe if it is possible they will come with a helicopters and some big boats dahil ang small boats ay very impossible for them to reach. I’m asking the National Government to come to give relief goods from manila.

Q. Any contact number bishop na puwedeng tawagan ng mga kapanalig nating nais tumulong po sa inyo?

A. Our landline number is 056-421-5825 or fax number 056-211-1842.