President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed satisfaction on Saturday with the government’s response to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Egay, as he promised to continue providing aid to those affected particularly food, potable water, medicine, and shelter assistance.
“So, that’s more or less the general issues that we have been talking about. Mukha naman ang response ng national government ay satisfactory,” President Marcos said in an interview after the situation briefing in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
“I can say that it’s okay but talagang mabigat itong nangyari dahil the rains are much, much heavy than we have had in recent times and even kagaya dito sa Ilocos Norte tinitingnan ko kung saan nagbaha, ganon na naman… ‘yung mga dating hindi binabaha (ang) nabaha. May mga baha na dinaanan na hindi dati dinadaanan.”
The country has to get used to the new weather pattern because of the obvious effects of climate change, he noted.
Government responders are working to reach isolated areas to bring food and basic necessities, using all means to provide assistance to far-flung communities, Marcos said, adding that the good thing is that the government was able to preposition food packs in critical areas before the typhoon struck.
“I first called Secretary Rex [Gatchalian] about this last Monday, bago ako umalis (papunta) ng Malaysia I. We already talked about it and I said mag-pre-position ka and that’s what exactly he did and
then we alerted all of the agencies so naka-ready sila. Ang mahirap lang ‘yung mga isolated pa at ‘yung mga kalsadang hindi pa madaanan,” Marcos said.
For those whose houses have been totally destroyed or partially damaged, the government will be providing them emergency shelter support, he said.
“Merong emergency support na gagawin ang DHSUD (Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development), ang human settlements at meron din gagawin ang NHA (National Housing Authority) para magtulungan sila and merong assistance at magpapatayo rin ng bahay,” the President pointed out.
“We are now at the phase where we are providing—we will have to provide construction materials. So kami na…and para hindi na maabala ang tao, gamitin na lang nila ‘yung mga gamit para maayos nila ang kanilang bahay.”
But one of the biggest concerns is restoring the supply of electricity in the region, particularly in Ilocos Norte, Marcos said, noting the province sustained extensive damage of its power lines.
Restoring power will take time because linemen have to meticulously repair the entire system before power supply could be switched on, the President said. PND
