President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday visited Cataduanes to inspect areas devastated by Super Typhoon Uwan on Nov. 9.

Marcos visited Tubli Elementary School in Barangay Tubli, Caramoran municipality, where he inspected the classrooms damaged by Uwan and those destroyed by Super Typhoon Pepito last year.

He also inspected the damaged houses and the seawall in the same barangay.

“Tiningnan natin kung gaano kalaki ang pinsala. Pinsala dito ay nagmula sa storm surge. Ito ang aming tinitingnan. Mayroon ding pinsala mula sa malakas na hangin. Kaya, iyon ang kailangan nating ayusin (We looked at the extent of damage. The damage here was from the storm surge. That’s what we’re looking at. There was also damage from strong winds. So, that’s what we need to fix),” Marcos said in a media interview.

In Barangay Tubli, a total of 158 houses were totally damaged, while 370 were partially destroyed, and nearly all motor bancas were smashed by storm surge.

Following the whole-of-government approach, Marcos instructed government agencies to continue to provide relief and assistance to typhoon-affected residents and help them recover as soon as possible.

“Ngunit sa ngayon, ang unang bagay na ginagawa namin ay relief muna. Tinutulungan natin ang lahat ng nasa evacuation center. Binibigyan natin ng pagkain at tubig. Nagdala kami ng mga Starlink para magkaroon kami ng komunikasyon (But for now, the first thing we are doing is relief. We are helping everyone in evacuation centers. We are providing food and water. We brought Starlink so that we can have good communication),” he said.

The President said all national government agencies and affected local government units continue to coordinate relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

The assistance also includes the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to provide cash assistance to residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged by Uwan.

Caramoran has reported 558 totally damaged houses and 2,127 partially damaged houses.

President Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1077 on Nov. 5, declaring a one-year national state of calamity to facilitate critical disaster response and post-disaster recovery measures. (PNA)