President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has earned the trust and confidence of local officials for his untiring efforts to extend financial assistance and other government services to Filipinos affected by calamities.
In a speech, Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco said the fisherfolk and residents of the city who were affected by the oil spill in Bataan and Typhoon Carina are thankful to President Marcos for personally looking into their condition.
“Dahil sa kaniyang [President Marcos] personal na ‘pag bisita, Nakita ninyo naman isang buwan pa lang ayos na ‘yung ating navigational gate. Maraming, maraming salamat po, Mr. President,” Tiangco said.
The Navotas lawmaker was referring to the order of President Marcos for the immediate repair and improvement of a navigational gate that was struck and damaged by a passing barge. He said the President issued the order to immediately repair the damaged floodgate due to his awareness of its potential impact on fisherfolk as well as his proactive and preventive measures against typhoons.
“At ngayon po sinabihan niya ko dahil pinakita ko po ‘yung navigational gate dahil over 20 years old – alam ng mga mangingisda ‘yan, ‘di ba umaapaw na minsan ‘yung tubig, kaya sabi niya [President Marcos] ipaayos kaagad para sa mga susunod na panahon ay nakahanda siya,” Tiangco said.
“So, pinapataas niya na po ‘yung navigational gate at pinapa-improve na po,” the lawmaker added.
President Marcos tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the local government unit (LGU) of Navotas to immediately repair the navigational floodgate to address the flooding in the city.
“Batid din namin ang pagsubok na dala ng pagbaha sa inyong lungsod, kaya naman, nagtulungan ang DPWH, ang MMDA, at ang LGU upang agad na maisaayos ang Navotas navigational gate para sa [mas] organisadong pagdaloy ng tubig lalo na sa panahon ng tag-ulan at high tide,” President Marcos said.
Guimba Mayor Jesulito Galapon also expressed his gratitude to President Marcos for his swift response to their request for the repair of the Sta. Ana Bridge in a bid to develop and boost tourism, trade, industry, and the agriculture sector in the Nueva Ecija town.
“Batid at dama po namin na ang Bayan ng Guimba ay napakapalad sa araw na ito dahil kayo lamang po ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na dumalaw at naghandog ng biyaya sa ating magsasaka sa panahon ng iyong kaarawan,” Galapon said to President Marcos.
Mayor Galapon made the remarks during the launch of the “Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program” on Friday.
The President ordered Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III to initiate the repair of the Sta. Ana Bridge and include its repairs in the department’s “Bridge Building Program.”
Nueva Ecija (1st District) Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing echoed Mayor Galapon’s statement, saying that they are very grateful to President Marcos for the administration’s support of over 2,500 farmers in Nueva Ecija.
“Dahil po sa inyong pagkalinga, suporta at pagmamahal, naibalik na po ang dangal ng mga magsasakang Pilipino,” Suansing said.
For his part, President Marcos assured the Filipino people of the government’s continued support under his administration.
PND