Marcos vows to oversee recovery efforts in calamity-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines — To better oversee assistance distribution in calamity-hit areas, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wants to witness the recovery efforts there personally.

He said this after leading the turnover of cash assistance and housing materials to victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Laurel, Batangas, on Monday.

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“Bagama’t matagal nang umarangkada at patuloy ang daloy ng mga tulong sa mga probinsyang tinamaan, pupuntahan ko pa rin sila upang personal na pangasiwaan ang paghatid nito at pag-iinspeksyon ng mga gawain na may kinalaman sa rehabilitasyon,” Marcos said in his speech.

(Although assistance has long been underway and continues to flow to the affected provinces, I will still visit them to personally oversee the delivery and inspection of activities related to rehabilitation.)

“Pagdating sa kalamidad, hindi po ako makukuntento sa mga ulat na pinapadala sa akin. Ang gusto ko lagi ay personal na matunghayan kung totoo nga na umuusad ang mga pagbagon sa mga nasalantang lugar,” he added.

(When it comes to disasters, I am not satisfied with the reports sent to me. I always want to personally witness whether the recovery efforts in the affected areas are truly progressing.)

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The president also said the administration is working to simplify the process of releasing funds to local government units (LGUs) during disasters.

During the event, a total of P60 million in assistance from the Office of the President was turned over to Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, Lemery, Cuenca, and Balete LGUs.

Selected fisherfolk and farmers also received P10,000 each.