Marcos vows amid El Niño: ‘Malacañang will go to the people’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to make Malacañang’s presence felt across the country as it reels from the effects of El Niño.

During a government aid distribution to farmers in Zamboanga City, Marcos said he had to see the damage caused by the drought with his own eyes.

READ: Marcos orders ‘whole-of-gov’t’ response to El Niño, La Niña

“Hindi sapat na mabasa ko lang ang mga ulat ng suliranan ng inyong hinaharap, hindi lang dapat umasa sa mga report ng mga serbisyo at ayuda na dumadating sa inyo. Kailangan personal kong makita at marinig ang inyong mga hinaing, makita ng aking sariling mata ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan,” said Marcos.

(It is not enough that I read reports about your problems; it is not enough to rely on reports of the services and aid that reach you. I need to see personally and hear your concerns, to see with my own eyes the condition of our countrymen.)

The president was accompanied at the event by Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. Marcos said that different agencies were there to provide other forms of government aid.

“Lalarga tayo sa buong kapuluan. Walang rehiyon na maiiwan, walang lalawigan na makakaligtaan. Hindi ang lokal na pamahalaan ang dudulog sa Malacañang. Ang Malacañang ang pupunta sa mamamayan,” said Marcos.

(We will travel the whole country. There is no region left behind, no province skipped. The local government will not go to Malacañang. Malacañang will go to the people.)

According to the Palace, Marcos extended aid amounting to P58 million to the city of Zamboanga and the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay.