President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday assured displaced residents in the Bicol Region of the government’s continued assistance in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” as his office released P80 million in financial aid.
“You can expect that so long as the government is here, we will continue to help you,” Mr. Marcos said as he checked on the condition of the affected families temporarily staying at the Naga City Hall on Saturday.
“Please know that we never forgot you and we are always thinking of how to help you,” he added.
Bicol was among the hardest hit regions by “Kristine,” with several residential areas and agricultural lands submerged in floodwaters, affecting more than 1.8 million people or 384,436 families.
Before visiting the evacuation center, Mr. Marcos also inspected Causip village in the town of Bula.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed P56.5 million worth of family food packs as an immediate response to families affected by the storm in Bicol.
A presidential helicopter – the Bell 412 – was also being used to deliver essential relief supplies to communities battered by “Kristine.”
The helicopter transported goods from Tactical Operations Group 5 in Legazpi to Libon, Albay.
As this developed, President Marcos vowed to pursue a long-term flood control project in the Bicol region, underscoring how climate change and increasingly severe weather patterns have made urgent action essential.
He said flood-prone areas can no longer rely solely on temporary measures.
“This is the new situation we face with climate change, with storms bringing extreme rainfall and causing unprecedented floods,” Mr. Marcos said.
He noted the recent storm brought nearly double the rainfall recorded during Tropical Storm Ondoy, which set a benchmark for flooding in 2009.
The cornerstone of Mr. Marcos’ plan is the revival and reconfiguration of the Bicol River Basin Development Project that originally started in 1973 but was halted in 1986 before completion.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer. Flooding like this will continue, so we’re putting immediate attention on implementing a large-scale solution specifically for flood control,” Mr. Marcos said.
Photo: PPA Pool, PCO
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos assures support for ‘Kristine’ victims during Camarines Sur visit.”
