Marcos vows quick recovery of ‘Egay-hit’ areas

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday assured the public that the government was doing its best to restore normalcy to the areas affected by Super Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) as soon as possible.

During the distribution of various government assistance to affected residents in Bangued, Abra, the President said that everything they need had been prepared by the government.

Toppled trees caused by Typhoon Doksuri block a road in Baguio City, northern Philippines on Wednesday July 26, 2023. Typhoon Doksuri ripped off tin roofs from homes, engulfed low-lying villages in flood, knocked down power and displaced more than 12,000 people Wednesday as it smashed into a small island and lashed northern Philippine provinces overnight with ferocious wind and rain, officials said. (AP Photo)

Marcos believed that the national government and local government units (LGUs) worked well together in responding to the typhoon, saying they have “good communication” and expressing confidence that basic services can be restored “immediately.”

Prior to the distribution, the President presided over a situation briefing on the effects of Egay from the governors of Abra, Benguet and Mountain Province and various government agencies involved in disaster response efforts.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided P5.62 million worth of assistance with the help of the LGU of Abra and the Office of Civil Defense–Cordillera Administrative Region.

At least 8,375 family food packs and 5,926 other food and non-food items were also made available while 96 gallons of water and 1,142 hygiene kits were provided.

Marcos, the concurrent Agriculture secretary, has also made various forms of assistance available to the affected farmers and fishermen, such as seeds, medicines and biologics for livestock, poultry and fingerlings.

The Survival and Recovery Loan Program and the Quick Response Fund were also prepared by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The President said the government was also ensuring a clean water supply for the affected areas but admitted having difficulty restoring power due to felled electric posts.

He said he would ask other provinces to send linemen to help.

Marcos said that the government would also provide building materials to the affected families.

So far, he said they have yet to determine the amount of damage or the number of homes destroyed due to Egay.

Meanwhile, Marcos said that they were taking care of those who were in evacuation centers and that they were also looking for those who chose to seek shelter elsewhere to help them.

“Those who left their homes and went elsewhere — we’re also looking for them so we can provide help since they were also displaced,” he said.

Marcos also said they were eyeing sending communication satellites to far-flung areas so they could report to the national government and request whatever they need.

According to Malacañang, the extensive flooding and damage to agriculture and infrastructure prompted Abra’s officials to place the province in a state of calamity.

Around 46,000 families, or over 180,000 individuals, were affected by the super typhoon in Abra alone.

Among the assistance given during the ceremony are food packs and P10,000 in cash assistance from the DSWD; agricultural assistance to farmers from the DA; and cash assistance from the Office of the President to LGUs under the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Tuguegarao visit

The President also traveled to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan on Saturday afternoon and presided over a situation briefing with representatives from the local government and concerned organizations.

Marcos also led the distribution of aid from the Office of the President, DA and DSWD.

Cagayan was one of the areas in Northern Luzon severely impacted by “Egay.”

The super typhoon devastated 250 villages in four provinces, forcing more than 14,000 people to flee their homes.

The DA and Department of Public Works and Highways estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture at P340 million and P1.15 billion, respectively.