Senators expanded relief missions and field assessments yesterday across typhoon-hit provinces as communities continued to grapple with the impact of Typhoon Tino.
Senator Erwin Tulfo intensified his assistance operations in Palawan by distributing rice and essential supplies to about one thousand families in Langogan, Puerto Princesa.
The distribution followed earlier financial aid missions in the Palawan municipalities of Roxas, Agutaya, Araceli, and Coron.
“As long as I am a senator, we will work together to alleviate the situation not only in Langogan, Puerto Princesa, but the entire Palawan, and ultimately, the entire MIMAROPA Region, which has always been left behind,” Tulfo said.
The neophyte senator later met with the Western Command led by Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. to reaffirm his support for additional funding for the command’s military hospital.
He capped his Palawan visit by meeting fellow alumni at the Seminario de San Jose, where he discussed the values that shaped his approach to public service.
In Bicol and Aurora, Senator Pia Cayetano continued her own relief and assessment efforts in communities heavily affected by the storm.
She also inspected the Eastern Bicol Medical Center to assess its immediate needs, including medical equipment upgrades and structural repairs.
“Thanks to the LGUs’ early warning and intervention, residents in the coastal communities were kept safe. But the need for support remains, especially for those who lost almost everything,” Cayetano said.
As finance senior vice chairperson handling the budgets of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health, she recommended additional funding to boost local government capacity during post disaster recovery.
She also pointed to the nationwide inspections led by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who has been highlighting the urgency of upgrading and strengthening infrastructure in vulnerable areas.
“At the end of the day, recovery isn’t just about rebuilding structures. It’s also about rebuilding lives through education, health, and livelihood support,” the senator concluded.
