Q: So, how’s the inspection po?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wala, talagang sabi ng Fire Protection ay talagang hindi na puwede itong building na ito.

But in the meantime, mukha namang nakapag-adjust ‘yung ating school administration, nakapag-adjust sila. Hindi sila nag-suspend ng klase. Naglipat-lipat lang.

So, now we must look to the rehab – no reconstruction nitong nasira. Dahil kahit na sa labas makita niyo structurally mukhang hindi na maaasahan ‘yung mga – siyempre ‘yung mga structure dito. Kaya kailangan talagang gibain.

Buti na lang hindi inabot ‘yung katabi na building. Within 30 minutes naman, ‘yung ating mga bumbero ay within 30 minutes nawala na ‘yung apoy. Pero it happened on Sunday morning kaya…

As usual, electrical na naman ang naging problema. Kaya iyon ang kailangan nating bantayan.

Siguro we have to send out – we have to also… Dahil ang mga schoolroom natin, ang mga school buildings natin, ang mga school facilities natin, medyo luma na rin.

Eh ‘yung sa electrical, kinakargahan na natin ng computer, ng bagong fan, ‘yung iba aircon. Kaya talagang overloaded na kaya nagkakaganito.

Kaya siguro we have to look at the other schools also na tiyakin na, at the very least, may magandang fuse box para hindi makapag-overload sa ating electrical systems.

But in the meantime, Public Works has already been, of course, I’ve already instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways na tingnan nila and what will it take – how soon can we rebuild it? Ang plano yata ito two storeys, gagawing four storeys. Tapos ‘yung mga ibang facilities na kailangan.

So, in a way, it’s an opportunity for us to upgrade the building. It’s unfortunate that it had to have happened because of a fire. Pero, hopefully, pagbigyan na tayo dahil umuulan na. Hindi naman masyadong madalas ang ganyang klaseng sunog.

But, yeah, we’ll just keep going. We’ll just continue to make sure that the children are able to attend class, that the teachers have what they want.

Iyong mga nasirang gamit, we will replace it. School supplies not only of the children but also the teachers. Iyong mga gamit ng mga teacher.

Nakita pa namin ‘yung nandoon na debris na sunog. So, we’ll have to replace that, otherwise the teachers cannot do their job.

So, that’s the situation for now.

Q: Sir, just a quick statement please on the Israel-Gaza conflict because Tel Aviv is burning already. What’s your directive for Filipinos there?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, I don’t know about Tel Aviv is burning but it’s being bombed by Iran and – because of the Israeli…

Of course, we are watching our nationals both in Israel and in Iran. And as a matter of fact, we have already contacted all our nationals and asked them if they want to be evacuated.

Some have asked to be evacuated out of Israel. Some now, noong una, sa Iran, ayaw nila munang umalis. Pero ngayon, mayroon nang sinasabi na kailangan – they – wala silang – natatakot na sila kaya nagpapatulong nang makalabas.

Ang naging problema natin sa pag-evacuate sa kanila ay dahil sa giyera, maraming sarado na airport. Kaya naghahanap tayo ng ruta kung saan sila mailabas. But we have been able to do that.

And the first batch, in fact, Secretary Cacdac is already on his way to Israel – to Jordan, actually to Jordan, para ma-coordinate niya both the evacuees from Israel and the evacuees from Iran. 

Q: Sir, raised to Alert Level 3 or 4? 

PRESIDENT MARCOS: To? 

Q: Alert Level 3 or 4? Mandatory repatriation?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: No, not yet. We generally leave it to each individual or each family to decide for themselves whether or not they feel safe, or whether or not they would like to be evacuated.

Q: Sir, do you expect that impact is higher oil prices here? How are we bracing for that, sir?

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, again, we are starting already with the assumption that oil prices will in fact go up, and I cannot see how it will not. Because the Strait of Hormuz will then be blocked if it escalates.

The oil cannot come out of its sources. So, the prices will certainly be affected.

So, the subsidies that we have always given, fuel subsidies, that we gave to… If you remember during the pandemic, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga nagpapasada, para may hanapbuhay naman sila, binigyan natin ng fuel subsidies.

Now, we will have to do the same for those who are severely affected, stakeholders, by any instability in the price of oil. Yes, it’s a serious problem.

Q: Thank you, sir!

PRESIDENT MARCOS: Okay, salamat. Thank you.

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