President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he is satisfied with the overall response of the different government agencies on the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat).

“So, kaunti lang naman ang instruction na binigay ko sa grupo dahil maganda naman ang response natin so far,” President Marcos said in a media interview after attending a situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Sinabihan ko na lang sila mag-focus lang nang mabuti doon sa mga areas na sa hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa natin naipasok. So, ‘yun ang after… Iyon ang magiging next na priority na gagawin ng DSWD, pati na siyempre Public Works because kung ‘yung mga daan ay na-landslide, kailangan magtulungan sila ng LGU para i-clear ‘yung daan,” he said.

The President ordered the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and other concerned agencies to identify and prioritize communities still unreached by government aid.

He also tasked government agencies to warn and support communities first before releasing water from dams especially in Luzon to avoid accidents and loss of lives.

As of Wednesday noon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has recorded a total of 45,328 families affected in 225 barangays in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, National Capital Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

There are 1,702 families or 6,524 individuals currently taking shelter in 126 evacuation centers in various regions.

President Marcos said in a social media posting that the government has prepositioned PhP2.88 billion worth of aid and close to 4,500 personnel are on standby for search, rescue and retrieval operations.

The government has so far distributed assistance amounting to PhP43.15 million, benefitting 770,000 individuals affected by the southwest monsoon in Visayas and Mindanao. PND