In a facebook live on Monday, December 20, Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo delivered the concern of the victims of Super Typhoon Odette that the now shutdown ABS-CBN was sorely missed by its ability to cover almost all parts of the Philippines.
“Ang gusto ko lang pong i-kwento sa inyo ang mga nakita ko. Kasi isa po ito sa mga request ng mga nandoon.
“May general feeling yung mga kababayan natin na hindi masyadong alam natin na mula doon sa pinangyarihan nang bagyo.
“Hindi natin masyadong alam dito kung ano yung tunay na nangyari sa kanila. Kasi unang-una, down nga yung mga communication lines.
“Napakahirap pong magpadala ng mga pictures except yung mga galing doon na nakalabas na. Kahit kami na nandoon mahirap mag-communicate dito,” Robredo began.
The Vice President then shared how most of those affected by the typhoon almost said the same thing: ABS-CBN could have been key to sharing their current situation with the country and the world.
“Ito po, very common na sinasabi sa amin na ‘wala na kasi ang ABS-CBN. So wala na sa amin ang nagco-cover. Hindi siguro nila alam na ganito kalala sa amin.'”
Odette caused telecommunication lines unavailable and Robredo said she will narrate the victims’ stories.
“So ako po nag-promise ako sa kanila na ikekwento ko sa inyo kapag nagkaroon ako nang opportunity and may opportunity nga ngayon.
“Sa lahat ng pinuntahan namin down yung communication lines. Sa lahat ng pinuntahan namin walang kuryente, walang tubig. Yung signal po ng telepono meron lang sa mga kaunting lugar.”
This concern expressed by Robredo was not the only one as Marvin Germo, a YouTuber and General Manager of Ephesians Management Corporation revealed how the Limasawa Island in Leyte was devasted by Odette.
He then noted to netizens to help him spread awareness of the situation of the island.
Hi everyone. Not alot of attention is placed in Limasawa Island in Leyte. 90% of the homes were destroyed from Typhoon Odette. If you have the means to spread awareness for aid to go there and if you have the means to send aid as well that would go a long way. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/a6SFMxX7SW
— marvin germo (@marvingermo) December 19, 2021
Meanwhile, netizens agreed with Robredo since the Kapamilya network can deliver all the important news, including those severely affected by calamities.
the lack of media coverage on Odette shouldn’t be a luzon vs vismin issue. media people are also struggling w/ bad signal and logistics right now, and tbh, abs-cbn’s regional stations could’ve been instrumental in making disaster info more accessible. may field reporters pa sila.
— jazzy (@jazireedc) December 19, 2021
if i’m not mistaken, their regional stations also served as hubs for donations and relief goods before
so ayun, the shutting down of abs-cbn, the network with the WIDEST regional reach, has done more damage than anyone could possibly realize.
— jazzy (@jazireedc) December 19, 2021
Even Kapamilya actress Agot Isidro missed the presence of ABS-CBN as she blamed the 70 congressmen who shut down the Network.
Kapag may mga disaster na ganito, tutok tayo sa balita sa TV or sa radyo. Ramdam ang pagkawala ng ABSCBN ngayon.
To the 70 congressmen and their puppet master. Hindi talaga kayo nakatulong.
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) December 20, 2021
A twitter personality said that victims of Typhoon Odette were “abandoned” because of the lack of media mileage.
Grabe yung live ni @lenirobredo. There is a real sense of abandonment among victims of #OdettePH. She mentions that people are acutely aware that the ABS-CBN shutdown is making everything much harder.
— Thomas thee Tankengine (@goodkidbikecity) December 20, 2021
He then pointed out that ABS-CBN was “critical in disaster response infrastructure.” Through the station’s regional stations, Filipinos get much better coverage about what’s happening.
ABS-CBN was critical disaster response infrastructure. They helped people and goods get to where they needed to be and their presence is missed even more now https://t.co/1I5spfqste
— Thomas thee Tankengine (@goodkidbikecity) December 19, 2021
A netizen criticized the government-owned TV station PTV4, where the secretary of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Martin Andanar promised to make the Network the “greatest network” in the Philippines.
https://twitter.com/ohitsmiko/status/1472785900245434370
Some netizens even urged the public to “never forget” those who voted to deny ABS-CBN its franchise renewal, stressing the importance of the Kapamilya Network in situations like these where media coverage is critical.
Huwag po tayong makalimot sa mga mambabatas lalo nasa VIS-MIN area na pumatay ng prangkisa ng ABSCBN na nagbibigay impormasyon sa mga lugar na madalas na naaapektuhan ng kalamidad. Nasa ating mga kamay ang pagluklok sa mga mambabatas na nararapat maglingkod sa bayan. #OdettePH pic.twitter.com/V6KI9kFFiM
— Philip (@sofianphilip1) December 20, 2021
Paki tandaan po ulit ang mga bumoto para ipasara ang ABS-CBN, isa po sila sa dahilan ng pahirap sa paghahatid ng balita ukol sa mga parating na sakuna at nangangailangan ng pinaka agarang tulong sa mga naperwisyo at nasalanta. Ganito sila kawalang pakialam 😓😤
— samanthafaith (@ritchsamigma08) December 18, 2021
On Thursday, December 16, Odette ravaged the country, affecting the Visayas and Mindanao, destroying properties and livelihood.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 208 people got killed by the typhoon.