President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks to his Cabinet Secretaries before departing for Brunei for a state visit on May 28, 2024. Photo from Jean Mangaluz
Updated on May 28, 2024 at 10:07 a.m.
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. broke the typical departure ceremony format on Tuesday and delivered a status report on the current damage that Aghon (international name, Ewiniar) has caused, as well as the government’s response.
According to the President, 26,726 persons have been affected by the typhoon, with the government releasing P1.35 million in response and an additional P607.9 million on standby.
Marcos also said that six localities are still experiencing power outages, with three airports and 29 seaports non-operational due to Aghon.
READ: Gov’t releases P1.2M to aid victims of Typhoon Aghon — Marcos
Marcos is set to travel to Brunei for a state visit. Before leaving the country, the President typically addresses his cabinet secretaries in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City.
The President has also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health to aid the victims of Typhoon Aghon. He also ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTR) to be on standby.
“Tuluyan kong inatasan ang DSWD, ang DA, DOH, para makapagbigay ng assistance sa lahat ng mga naging biktima ng Typhoon Aghon. And dahil ang kasunod naman talaga lagi diyan ay— kaya naman ang DPWH at saka ang DOTr ang kailangan susunod na diyan sa first responder para maayos na kaagad ang mga nasira na infrastructure,” said Marcos before giving his departure speech in Pasay City.
(I ordered the DSWD, the DA, and the DOH to assist the victims of Typhoon Aghon. And because what always follows is— that is why the DPWH and the DOTr are first responders to fix the damaged infrastructure.)
The President added that 841 search and rescue retrieval teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection have been deployed.
Marcos said 436 emergency telecommunications equipment are also ready for deployment to ease the distribution of relief goods.
“We will keep you informed habang tumatagal at makita natin ang pagdaan ng Aghon at kung ano ‘yung kailangan gawin doon sa mga naging biktima,” said Marcos.
(We will keep you informed as time passes and as Aghon passes through about what we will do for the victims.)