MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that his office will release P25 million to further assist families affected by Typhoon Julian in Batanes.
Marcos was in Basco, Batanes, on Friday and distributed aid to typhoon victims in the archipelagic province.
READ: Typhoon Julian re-enters PAR, no direct effect in PH except over Batanes
”Ang Office of the President naman ay magrerelease kami ng P25 million para sa inyo,” Marcos said in his speech.
(The Office of the President, meanwhile, will release P25 million for you.)
The House of Representatives has already allocated P15 million for relief efforts, he said.
“Ang susunod na kailangan naming gawin ay ‘yung pagre-rebuilding dahil nakita kong nasira ‘yung ibang bahay… talagang natangay lahat, so ‘yun ang susunod naming gagawin,” Marcos also said.
(The next thing we need to do is to rebuild because I saw that some houses were destroyed… everything was really swept away, so that’s what we will do next.)
During the event, approximately 200 families received P3,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The DSWD also distributed 2,000 family food packs (FFP) and water filters to the residents, while the Office of Civil Defense provided each family with 10 kilograms of rice.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Batanes handed over 800 pieces of galvanized iron sheets and 800 pieces of lumber.
Marcos said the government will conduct another round of FFP distribution for the town.
Also present at the brief ceremony were DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr., and Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco.
Typhoon Julian re-entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Despite the reentry, Julian has no direct effect on the country except for Batanes, which is relatively close to Taiwan.
The provincial government declared Batanes under a state of calamity due to the extent of destruction caused by the disaster.