Marcos gives P50M aid to Catanduanes after Pepito

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday gave a P50 million assistance to the province of Catanduanes amid the damage brought by Super Typhoon Pepito.

Marcos handed the cheque from the Office of the President to Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua at the Virac Sports Complex.

This was after the President and some cabinet members conducted an aerial inspection over the island  province.

Accompanying Marcos were Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“Nakita namin kung ano ‘yung mga naging damage. Tama naman, mukhang tama naman ‘yung mga nirereport sa akin… talaga ang naging problema dito ay hindi ‘yung masyado sa ulan ngunit ang lalakas ng hangin,” Marcos said.

(We saw the extent of the damage. And the reports I received were correct, that the problem here was not heavy rain but strong winds.)

“Nung umiikot kami, nakikita talaga namin, ‘yung mga yero ng mga building ay parang tinalupan na prutas kasi nawala lahat ng mga bubong. At nakita natin ‘yung mga light materials lamang, mga light construction materials ay talagang dala dahil sa lakas ng hangin,” he added.

(During our inspection, we saw that the rooftops look like peeled fruit. And we saw that the light construction materials were really blown away by strong winds.)

According to data from the Catanduanes government, more than 39,500 families or more than 137,000 individuals were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Pepito over the weekend.

Meanwhile, around 3,760 houses were heavily damaged while 10,713 houses were partially damaged in the province.

Marcos said the government will also provide construction materials to residents whose homes were damaged.

“Wala pa dito ngunit susunod na po, magbibigay po kami ng mga tinatawag— mga building materials po, mga yero, mga dos por dos, pati martilyo, pati pako. Magdadala po kami para kahit papaano masimulan ninyo ang pag paayos ng inyong mga bahay, ‘yung mga damaged na bahay,” he said.

(They’re not here yet, but we will provide building materials such as aluminum roofing, [wood], hammers, and nails. We will deliver these so you could start fixing your homes, your damaged houses.)

Meanwhile, Marcos also led the distribution of food packs to affected families.

“Walang deadline po ito. Hanggat kailangan ninyo na magkaroon pa ng food pack, mag papadala pa rin kami ng patuloy na pagpadala ng food pack,” he said.

(There’s no deadline for this. As long as you need food packs, we will continue to deliver food packs.)

The President said that the government will also distribute cash assistance for the other needs of affected residents.

“Iba’t ibang pamilya, may mga pangangailangan na iba’t iba kaya meron din tayong binibigay na cash assistance. Itong cash assistance para magamit po ninyo na pang bili,” he said.

(Different families have different needs so we will also give cash assistance. You can use the cash assistance for your other needs.)

Pepito left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday afternoon. —RF, GMA Integrated News