President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured Masbate residents of sustained government support as the province reels from the devastation of Severe Tropical Storm Opong (Bualoi).
Speaking during the distribution of aid at Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City, Marcos vowed that the government will not leave until all evacuees and affected families have fully recovered.
“Huwag kayo pong mag-alala, hindi kayo basta maiiwanan na lang… Hindi po kami aalis dito hanggang lahat ng evacuees, lahat ng mga tinamaan ng bagyo ay nakatayo na, nakaahon na,” Marcos said.
Around 600 families received PHP10,000 each under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. The Department of Labor and Employment also turned over PHP34.8 million for 6,455 beneficiaries of the TUPAD program in 11 municipalities.
Additional aid included food packs, hygiene kits, laminated sacks, water filtration kits, grocery items, hot meals, and mobile kitchen services from DSWD, PCSO, and the Philippine Red Cross. Marcos also handed over two Starlink units to Nursery Elementary School.
“Meron tayong cash assistance dahil ang bawat pamilya ay iba-iba ang pangangailangan… huwag po kayong mag-alala nandito po kami,” the President added.
Marcos praised local governments’ proactive response and pledged to restore damaged infrastructure, particularly the 806 destroyed classrooms, within a month. He noted that power restoration remains a challenge but said generators have been deployed to hospitals and other critical facilities.
“Huwag po kayong magdadalawang isip, kapag may pangangailangan… gagawin naming, ibibigay po naming sa inyo,” Marcos said.
