President Rodrigo Duterte led the distribution of relief goods to typhoon survivors in Camarines Sur on Tuesday tagging along his key Cabinet members to help the province to get back on its feet.In his speech, the President said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol has P50 million to be released immediately and will give corn and palay seeds for farmers to start planting.
“He has the money for corn pati rice, and he has about P50 million to give you. Titingnan ko lang if needed then I might add some,” he said.
Among the members of the Cabinet who were with the President include Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and Defense Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. He said Secretary Lorenzana is doing the overall typhoon damage assessment.
For those needing medical assistance, they could seek help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which the President extended P1 billion funds to provide for the medical needs of underprivileged Filipinos.
The President advised Bicolanos to quickly work back and bring their province to normalcy and avoid having feelings of helplessness.
“So the thing is after, whatever it is, catastrophe, war, sunog, calamity, is really to go back immediately to the normal ways,” the President said.
“Huwag na tayong maghintay and wallow in self-pity, nakakaawa tayo. Balik na kaagad kayo kinabukasan. We return to normalcy ASAP, as soon as possible,” he added.
The President assured that there will be no corruption in his administration particularly with the release of assistance to Camarines Sur after the onslaught of Typhoon Nina.
He arrived with his cabinet members in Camarines Sur after visiting Catanduanes where he also extended assistance to typhoon victims.
Meanwhile, the President again rallied for support for federalism saying the Bicolanos and the Moros want a federal form of government, which he said the only way to solve Mindanao secessionist agenda.
He also mentioned the ongoing war on illegal drugs as he renewed his pledge to eliminate the drug menace in the country within his term.###PND