By Brian Campued and Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. distributed around P46.14 million in financial assistance to a total of 4,546 farmers, fisherfolk, and their families affected by the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon in Oriental Mindoro.

Speaking at the distribution event in the Municipality of Pinamalayan on Thursday, the President expressed hope that the financial aid delivered to beneficiaries would help them recover from the aftermath of recent calamities.

“Mga kababayan, ang pamamahagi ng tulong na ito ay tanda ng ating panata sa isa’t isa—na kahit anong mangyari, tayo ay laging magtutulungan. At ang pagbangon mula sa ganitong sakuna ay nakasalalay sa bawat isa sa atin,” Marcos said.

“Ang inyong lakas sa kabila ng ganitong hirap ay nagbibigay sa amin ng determinasyon upang patuloy na kayo’y silbihan nang [buong] puso,” he added.

During the ceremonial distribution, the President extended P10,000 each to select beneficiaries from Baco, Calapan City, Naujan, Pola, Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Socorro, Victoria, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Pinamalayan, and Roxas.

In addition to the Presidential aid, Department of Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian joined in distributing an additional P683,449.32 in financial assistance. 

Renewed calls for mitigating climate change

The President renewed his call for a whole-of-nation approach to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Philippines, as successive typhoons of increasing strength continue to hit the country, leaving massive destruction in many parts of the archipelago.

“Sa kabila ng hirap at hamon na dulot ng Bagyong Kristine at Leon, muling ipinakita ng ating mga kababayan ang diwa ng bayanihan at pagkakaisa. Ngunit, batid kong marami pa ang kailangan nating gawin upang makabangon muli sa mga [pagsubok] na ito,” the President said.

The Chief Executive instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned agencies to revise the country’s flood control masterplan.

“Ang sabi ko nga, ang bagyo ngayon iba na. May mga flood control tayo pero dahil sa mas madaming tubig na dulot ng pag-ulan, hindi na nakakayanan,” Marcos said.

“Kaya inatasan ko na rin ang DPWH, DENR, at iba pang ahensya na rebisahin ang Flood Control Masterplan upang makasabay sa patuloy na paglakas ng mga bagyo,” he added.

The President also directed the DILG and DENR to encourage local government units to use the geohazard maps of the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau in identifying landslide-prone and flood-prone areas.

“Hinihimok ko rin ang ating mga kababayan na sumunod sa mga babala ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan para sa inyong kaligtasan,” he said.

He, likewise, ordered the DPWH, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure the integrity of road networks and other infrastructures in the country.

“Makakaasa kayo na ang pamahalaan ay narito para matulungan kayo na makabangon sa mga ganitong pagsubok,” Marcos said.

“Ngunit, maliban dito, kailangan din namin ng inyong kooperasyon at suporta para magtagumpay ang mga hakbang na nakalatag sa inyong komunidad laban sa sakuna,” he added.

—av