Sara Duterte thanks Marcos for Davao Region aid

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio (Photo from her Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday for extending assistance to residents in the Davao Region who are still dealing with the impacts of a trough of low pressure area (LPA).

Duterte and Marcos were seen together in Davao City on Wednesday during a meeting with key government agencies to discuss how to further aid the Davaoeños affected by the weather system.

On the same day, the President approved the release of P265 million for the victims of flooding and landslides due to inclement weather in the region.

READ: Marcos releases P265 M for aid to flood-stricken Mindanao folk

“Thank you very much, President Bongbong Marcos, for all the assistance you have extended to the affected areas throughout the Davao Region,” Duterte said in a Facebook post in Filipino.

Duterte, who was a former mayor of Davao City, likewise called on Filipinos to be resilient amid challenges.

“My countrymen, let us continue to be STRONG as we strive to build a Nation that is Youthful and Patriotic,” she said.

The two leaders met in Davao City amid a verbal dispute involving the vice president’s brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte; father, former President Rodrigo Duterte; and Marcos. The two camps engaged in a heated exchange of accusations involving drug use and poor leadership.

READ: Marcos conducts aerial inspection of flood-stricken Davao de Oro town

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council situational report issued at 8 a.m. on Thursday, some 1,193,443 individuals have been affected by the trough of the LPA in Mindanao.

Of the total affected persons, 792,791 are from Davao Region.

Meanwhile, 271 areas are still flooded across Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the agency’s report added.