President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday handed over P80-million in financial assistance to typhoon Marce-hit municipalities in Cagayan for their immediate recovery.
In his speech during the aid distribution in Buguey, Cagayan, President Marcos assured affected residents of the government’s unwavering assistance.
“As long as it is necessary, those who have been displaced whose house has been damaged, are homeless even if they are in an evacuation center or in the house of their relative or friend, we will still provide these relief goods. It continues until they return to their home,” President Marcos said.
“As long as you still have a need, please let us know,” he told the residents.
President Marcos led the turnover of P10 million each to the municipalities of Aparri, Buguey, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Gattaran, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana. Local chief executives received the funds on behalf of their constituents.
Mr. Marcos also witnessed the distribution of assistance from different government agencies led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).
The DSWD distributed 1,800 food packs; the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provided 200 packs of rice at five kilograms each and 20 boxes of sardines; while the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) delivered 1,000 packs of 10kg rice.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) handed over P866.3 million in various interventions to farmers composed of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount, vegetable seeds, native chickens, and ducks.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of Saturday, Nov. 9, a total of 326,137 family food packs and P130,769,647.70 in food and non-food items at DSWD field offices in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley are available for augmentation and relief assistance.
The NDRRMC said ‘Marce’ affected a total of 15,58 families in Cagayan, 6,395 of them are sheltered at evacuation centers. More than 3,000 families are staying outside the evacuation centers. They are in need of construction materials to repair their damaged homes.
Five municipalities experienced flooding in Cagayan. Nineteen Cagayan municipalities are currently experiencing power interruption, according to NDRRMC. Two bridges, and a road are rendered impassable as of Saturday.
Cagayan officials want the national government to augment the air assets being used for assessment and transportation of logistics to isolated areas. They also require 30,000 boxes of family food packs,
and help to restore electricity in Northern Cagayan municipalities.
Last Nov. 7, Typhoon Marce made landfall in the vicinity of Santa Ana and later in Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan. It exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Nov. 8, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 having been the highest warning level issued during its onslaught.
