President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. visited Batanes to distribute the second round of family food packs and construction materials, including sheets of metal roofing and wood, to families whose homes were damaged by Typhoon #JulianPH.
During his visit, he also inspected the Batanes Central School and met with residents affected by the typhoon.
The President saw the extensive damage caused by the typhoon, with infrastructure being the most heavily impacted.
In a meeting with local officials, led by Governor Marilou Cayco, Marcos emphasized the need to assist residents in rebuilding their homes.
“Dinagdagan ng Speaker of the House ng P15 million ang release para sa tulong. Ang Office of the President naman, ay magrerelease kami ng P25 million para sa inyo,” Marcos announced.
According to the provincial government, Typhoon #JulianPH caused P813 million worth of damage in Batanes.
Cayco also raised the province’s request to lift the ban on gathering stones and sand temporarily, as Batanes is a protected area.
Marcos promised to discuss a possible exemption with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In addition to the roofing and wood materials, President Marcos allocated P25 million for the province’s rehabilitation efforts.
“Yung sa pagre-rebuilding... nakita ko yung nasira, yun ibang bahay, talagang natangay lahat. Yun ang susunod namin gawin,” Marcos said.