By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to personally visit and oversee the recovery and rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by the recent typhoons.
The President said this as he led the distribution of government assistance in Laurel, Batangas, one of the hardest-hit areas by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
“Ang ginagawa po natin sa Batangas gagawin po natin sa lahat ng lugar na niragasa ng Kristine at ng Leon,” Marcos said.
“Kung gaano kalawak ang pinsala ng mga bagyo, ganoon din ang ating magiging pagresponde. Kung gaano sila kalakas, ganoon din ang pagsusumikap nating ibangon ang mga bayang nasalanta,” he added.
The President said that as a leader, he does not solely rely on reports being handed to him, especially when it comes to disaster response.
“Bagamat matagal nang umarangkada at patuloy ang daloy ng mga tulong sa mga probinsyang tinamaan, pupuntahan ko pa rin sila upang personal na pangasiwaan ang paghatid nito at pag-i-inspeksiyon ng mga gawain na may kinalaman sa rehabilitasyon,” Marcos promised.
“Pagdating sa kalamidad, hindi po ako makukuntento sa mga ulat na pinapadala sa akin. Ang gusto ko lagi ay personal na matunghayan kung totoo nga na umuusad ang mga pagbangon sa mga nasalantang lugar,” he added.
To recall, the President also visited all 17 regions in the country to personally bring aid to those affected by the severe drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
Batangas visits
Prior to his visit in Laurel, the President also visited “ground zero” in Barangay Sampaloc in the neighboring town of Talisay, where at least 20 people died due to a landslide at the height of Kristine’s onslaught.
In his twin visit, Marcos distributed a total of P109.78 million in government aid to the victims.
Six municipalities in Batangas—Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, Cuenca, Lemery, and Balete—received P10 million apiece through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The Office of the President also distributed P10,000 to 4,378 selected beneficiaries in the municipalities of Agoncillo (1,599); Laurel (1,500); and Talisay (1,279).
Housing materials worth over P6 million, donated by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., were also distributed through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to the beneficiaries from Talisay (159 kits), Agoncillo (200 kits), and Laurel (200 kits).