By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday distributed PHP325 million in financial assistance to areas in Cagayan Valley that were hit by recent tropical cyclones.
In a ceremonial turnover in the City of Ilagan, Isabela, Marcos extended PHP50 million each to the provincial governments of Quirino and Isabela.
He also handed over PHP10 million each to the local government of Tuguegarao City and 20 typhoon-affected municipalities in Cagayan, as well as PHP10,000 each to about 1,500 beneficiaries from various municipalities in Isabela.
Marcos vowed that the government would remain relentless in providing support to typhoon-hit communities.
“Matapos dumaan ang anim na bagyo simula noong katapusan ng Oktubre, wala pang apat na linggo, anim ang dumaan sa atin, batid po ng pamahalaan ang matinding dusa na naranasan ninyo at ang hirap sa pagbangon mula sa mga nasira, hindi lamang ang imprastruktura kundi ang hanapbuhay, lalo na ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda (After six typhoons since the end of October, in less than four weeks, six have entered the country, the government is aware of the great suffering you have experienced and the difficulty in recovering from the damage, not only to infrastructure but also to livelihood, especially that of our farmers and fisherfolk),” he said.
“Ang inyong pamahalaan ay lagi namang handa na tumulong at samahan kayong makabangon. Bago pa lang dumating ang bagyo at sa mga araw at linggo pagkaalis nito, nakaalalay na ang inyong mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para mailigtas kayo sa kapahamakan at manumbalik agad ang inyong pamumuhay (Your government is always ready to help and accompany you in your recovery. Even before the typhoon arrived and in the days and weeks after it left, your local governments and various government agencies were already supporting you to save you from disaster and to quickly restore your livelihood).”
Marcos also thanked the local government units (LGUs) for serving as “first responders” to ensure public safety in times of calamities.
He expressed the readiness of concerned government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to provide support and assistance to LGUs.
“Saludo ako sa inyong lakas, tibay, at tapang. Kaya muli, tanggapin ninyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat (I salute your strength, resilience, and courage. So again, please accept my sincere gratitude),” the President said. (PNA)
