LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of financial assistance to low-income residents of Ilocos Norte who were severely affected by Super Typhoon ‘Julian’ at the Metro Gabu Covered Court in this city on Friday, Oct. 4.
In his message, President Marcos assured the government’s continuous support for the residents affected by the recent super typhoon.
He said, “We are here because we wanted to look at the damage. Galing din kami sa Basco (Batanes), malaki (ang pinsala) malakas ‘yong hangin, malakas ‘yong bagyo na nangyari sa Basco. Pero dito mayroon din tayong damage…karamihan dahil sa malaking tubig. And that’s why we are (here to help). ‘Yon ang ating ginagawan ng paraan.”
(We are here to assess the damage. We also came from Basco (Batanes), and the destruction there was massive. The wind and the typhoon were very strong. But here, we also have damage…mostly due to the high water. And that’s why we are here to help. That’s what we’re trying to do.)
“Hangga’t kailangan, nandito kami. We will continue to give assistance sa lahat ng ating mga kasama,” the president added.
(As long as it’s needed, we will be here. We will continue to provide assistance to all our people.)
The President also mentioned providing additional cash assistance of P10,000, recognizing that families severely affected by disasters have additional needs beyond relief goods.
“We will continue to give assistance as long as it is needed. Hindi naman tayo nagkukulang sa gamit, sa relief goods. And then we will be providing cash assistance already na tig-P10,000. Monday, ‘yong cash assistance ibibigay na natin. Kasi ang experience namin ganoon. Kahit na may relief goods, bawat pamilya may sariling pangangailangan na hindi kasama sa relief goods. Halimbawa, ‘yong ipapakain sa bata o ‘yung mga gamot, ‘yang mga ganyang klaseng bagay,” Marcos said.
(We will continue to give assistance as long as it is needed. We don’t have a shortage of supplies or relief goods. And then we will be providing cash assistance already at P10,000 each. We will give the cash assistance on Monday. Because this is our experience, even with relief goods, each family has their own specific needs that are not included in the relief goods. For example, food for the children or medicines, those kinds of things.)
Some 5,800 residents of this city and the municipalities of Bangui, Pagudpud, and Piddig simultaneously received a total of P17.962 million in cash aid through the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Apart from providing cash aid, the distribution of family food packs (FFP) to typhoon-affected communities in the province is ongoing as the number of impacted families continues to increase, according to the DSWD Field Office 1.
Rosaly Gaoiran, a resident of Barangay 48-B Cabungaan in Laoag City, was one of the beneficiaries whose village experienced severe flooding, resulting in the loss of their rice crops.
She said, “Halos lahat kami doon [wala nang aanihing palay]. Kasi as in baha, wala kang makikitang palay kasi as in na lumubog kami at napasukan din ng tubig baha ang aming mga tahanan. Kaya sa awa ng Diyos, noong last na bagyo halos magdamag na nakababad kami sa tubig baha dahil mahirap ang rescuer na pumasok sa amin dahil sa malakas na tubig. Iyong mga palay talaga namin ang naapektuhan, sayang at wala na naman kaming aasahang ani, sayang talaga.”
(Almost all of us [lost all of our rice crops]. Our fields were completely flooded, and our homes were also affected. During the recent typhoon, we were nearly submerged throughout the night because of the powerful currents, making it difficult for rescuers to reach us. Unfortunately, we won’t have anything to harvest again, and our rice fields will be seriously impacted. It’s truly a devastating situation.)
With the financial aid she received, Gaoiran said they will allocate it to their flooded rice field and try to save whatever can still be recovered.
Even though it’s difficult for them to get back on their feet, she said they are grateful for the constant assistance and support of the government in their community.
She added, “Maraming salamat po, President Bongbong Marcos, thank you sa pagtulong sa amin at ganon din kay Congressman Sandro [Marcos], salamat dahil napagawa niya iyong daan namin doon at hindi masyadong pumasok ang tubig baha kaya kaonti lang ang napasukan ng tubig baha doon [sa mga kabahayan]. Hindi nila kami pinapabayaan na kababayan nila.”
(Thank you very much, President Bongbong Marcos. Thank you for helping us. Also, thank you to Congressman Sandro Marcos for repairing our road. Because of his effort, the floodwaters didn’t enter much, so only a little floodwater got into our houses. They didn’t abandon us, their fellow countrymen.)
After overseeing the distribution, President Marcos chaired a situation briefing at the Provincial Capitol to discuss the impact of Super Typhoon ‘Julian.’
During the briefing, DSWD Rex Gatchalian reported that a total of P10.64 million worth of FFPs and non-food items, such as hygiene and sleeping kits, had been provided to the affected families in the province as of Oct. 3.
Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc reported during the briefing that the typhoon affected 34,859 families or 127,283 persons in Ilocos Norte, with three casualties recorded in the city of Batac and the municipalities of Paoay and Pasuquin. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
