Marcos distributes P50M aid to Marce-affected towns in Ilocos Norte

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday led the distribution of P50 million financial assistance from the Office of the President to the towns affected by Typhoon Marce in Ilocos Norte.

Under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, the national government also handed out P20 million to Marce-affected towns, which was received by their respective local officials.

Pagudpud town received P6.54 million for 1,273 beneficiaries, while the municipalities of Pasuquin, Vintar, and Bacarra received P3.21 million each, which will benefit 625 beneficiaries from each locality.

Meanwhile, P1 million was distributed to the municipalities of Adams, Bangui, and Burgos, where each locality has 194 beneficiaries.

With 165 beneficiaries, Dumalneg town received P847,440.

In his speech, Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue to provide aid to Marce-affected residents in need.

He said the problem with Marce was not the rainfall but the strong winds.

“Hindi lamang isang departamento ang kelangan tumulong kapag merong disaster tulad nito kaya’t pinagsasama-sama namin lahat ng may kakayahan na tumulong para sila ay tumulong,” Marcos said.

“Kelang din natin magpasalamat at alalahanin ang mga private sectors,” he added.

(It is not just one department that needs to help when there is a disaster like this. We need to bring together all those who have the capabilities to help. We should also the private sector.)

Food packs, rice, seedlings, and sanitation kits were also distributed.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council logged one fatality due to the effects of Typhoon Marce.

It also recorded 21,273 families or 65,610 persons were affected by the onslaught of the Marce.
—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News