Marcos to prioritize restoration of communication, internet in Catanduanes

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he will prioritize the restoration of communication and internet in Catanduanes as the province recovers from the effects of Super Typhoon Pepito.

“Ang priority ngayon after I get back to Manila, ang magiging priority ko is ‘yung telecommunications para bumalik ang telepono, mayroon silang libreng telepono; ‘yung Internet, para may communications,” Marcos said in an ambush interview.

(My priority after I get back to Manila, my priority will be the telecommunications so that they can communicate through telephones; the internet, so they can have communications.)

The president visited Catanduanes to conduct an aerial inspection as well as to lead the distribution of food packs and financial aid to affected residents.

Marcos also gave a P50 million assistance to the Catanduanes government. He said the government will soon distribute construction materials to residents for the reconstruction of destroyed homes.

Meanwhile, he said he was confident that communication in the area will be easily restored but power is another matter.

“Ang ginagawa natin ‘yung mga linemen na sa mga lugar na mga probinsya na hindi tinamaan, hinihiram na muna natin sila para tumulong,” Marcos said.

(What we're doing is borrowing linemen from provinces that weren't affected to help out.)

 “Ngayon pagka natapos na nilang matingnan, mainspeksyon lahat, at sabihin nila na maayos na ‘yung sistema, puwede nang ibalik ang kuryente… ‘yun ang hindi pa natin naaayos is the communication at saka ‘yung power,” he added.

(Now, once they have finished inspecting everything and confirm that the system is fine, they can restore the electricity. That’s what we still haven't addressed is the communication and the power.)

Pepito left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday noon.

Though there were no recorded fatalities in Catanduanes, numerous homes were damaged in the province due to the super typhoon.

Marcos said another problem was the agricultural damage to the area.

“Dito sa Catanduanes center ito ng production ng abaka at maraming nasira. So, kailangan natin tignan ulit kung papaano tayo mag-replant,” he said.

(Catanduanes is the center for abaca production and a lot has been damaged. So, we need to reassess how we can replant.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News