This handout photo courtesy of Angelica Villarta taken on December 27, 2022 and received on December 28 shows residents surveying damage caused by heavy rain and floods in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental. – The death toll from floods in the Philippines has risen to 25, officials said on December 28, with storms expected to dump more rain over the hardest-hit southern and central regions. (Photo by Handout / Angelica Villarta / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines —President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the distribution of some P16.04 million worth of assistance to affected families in areas battered by rains in Misamis Occidental.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the plane carrying Marcos made three attempts to land before touching down at the Ozamiz City airport.
The President then held a briefing with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal at the airport instead of holding it at Oroquieta City as originally planned due to inclement weather.
“Mula noong dumating ang balita na bago ng Pasko na patuloy na patuloy na ‘yung ulan, gusto na namin makapunta ngunit ang weather, hindi kami makalipad, ayaw ng mga piloto,” he said in his speech in Gingoog City.
“Since we received news that rains were non-stop, we wanted to go here already but the weather wouldn’t permit us.)
“In fact galing kami sa Ozamis, lilipad din kami dun sa flood-hit areas, hindi na nakalipad yung helicopter dahil masyadong mababa ang ulap,” Marcos added.
(In fact, we’re from Ozamis, we wanted to go to the flood-hit areas, but our helicopter won’t operate because the clouds were too low.)
The bad weather also prevented the President from doing an ocular inspection over Oroquieta City to see the extent of the devastation, the PCO said.
“Ako’y nandito upang tignan kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari at kung ano ang kailngan gawin at tiyakin na ‘yung wala sa tahanan, ‘yung mga evacuee ay nasa inyo ang lahat ng inyong pangangailangan,” Marcos said.
(I am here to see what really happened and what is needed and to make sure that evacuees have all they need.)
After the briefing, the President proceeded to distribute relief goods in Tudela, Misamis Occidental.
President Marcos was joined by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
Some P55.81 million worth of financial assistance from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) has been provided to 11,133 beneficiaries in Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.
Of the figure, PhP8.67 million was provided to 1,733 beneficiaries in Oroquieta City, the PCO said.
According to the weather bureau, moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains occurred in most of Visayas and Mindanao due to the shear line.
A low pressure area also brought moderate to heavy rains across the country, including in Mindanao.
In Misamis Occidental, 16,013 families or 56,853 persons were affected in 155 barangays, the PCO said.
Of the number, 3,122 families or 9,928 persons were taking temporary shelter in 41 evacuation centers.
Twenty deaths have already been recorded, including eight in Oroquieta City.
Meanwhile, eight roads were affected but are now passable, while two roads in Oroquieta City were opened to traffic on December 27.
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