President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the distribution of relief assistance to families affected by the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in Antique province.
Speaking before the typhoon victims, Marcos said his administration is committed to providing assistance to Antique to ensure the immediate recovery of the province.
“Asahan po ninyo na lagi po kaming nandiyan kahit hindi niyo kami nakikita. Kapag ganitong may bagyo at may biktima, alam po namin ang pangyayari at ginagawa po namin ang lahat (Expect that we are always here, even if you don’t see us. If there is a typhoon and there are victims, we know what is happening and we are doing everything),” Marcos said in a speech delivered in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.
The President’s visit to Antique came nearly a week after he sent a team of Cabinet secretaries to assess the extent of damage caused by Paeng and identify the needs of the province for its immediate recovery.
As of Monday, around 51,788 families or 202,547 individuals have been affected by the storm, based on the briefer released by Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
About 861 houses in Antique were “totally” damaged by the typhoon, while 5,074 others were “partially” damaged.
During the event, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) granted PHP10,000 each to 300 beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program in Antique.
The DSWD also provided PHP5,000 cash aid, food packs and hygiene kits to another 1,200 recipients.
The Department of Agriculture also distributed financial assistance worth over PHP177 million to around 35,493 farmers, some palay (unhusked rice) seeds worth PHP13 million to 6,843 farmers, and 60 units of 30-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic boats to fishermen in the province.
Aerial inspection
Before the ceremonial distribution of relief aid to Paeng victims, Marcos conducted an aerial inspection of badly hit areas in Antique.
Marcos vowed to facilitate the immediate repair of roads and bridges damaged by the typhoon to ensure the continuous delivery of basic services in the province.
“Tinignan namin kung ano ‘yung mga nasira, ‘yung mga tulay. At gagawin namin ang lahat para maibalik, magamit man lang para naman maituloy ang pag-deliver, matuloy ang hanapbuhay at makabalik na naman tayo sa normal bago tayo magka-ganito (We checked the bridges that were destroyed. We will do everything to repair those for the continuity of delivery of basic services and restore normalcy),” he said.
Marcos also thanked the residents of Antique province for the support and trust they have given to him, his family, and his administration.
“Ang maisusukli ko lamang sa inyong tuluyang pagsuporta at pagmamahal sa akin, sa aking pamilya at ngayon, sa ating administrasyon ay ang magandang trabaho na aming gagawin para matulungan tayong lahat na makaahon (To repay you for your support and love for me, my family, and my administration, we will do our job to to help you recover),” Marcos said.
“‘Yung ating sinasabi, ‘yung ating sinisigaw na kampanya na sama-sama tayong babangon muli ay nagsimula na, kaya’y tuluy-tuloy na ang ating pagbangon dito sa Pilipinas (Our battlecry to rise again together is already being felt. That our recovery in the Philippines is within reach),” he added.
Marcos is also set to hold a situation briefing on the effects of Paeng in Antique. (PNA)
