MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the national government to work closely with the local government units in areas affected by super typhoon Egay to ensure the safety of the residents affected by the calamity.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said President Marcos has instructed them to continuously coordinate with the local chief executives as he underscored the importance of coordination between the local and the national government.

Gatchalian also emphasized the President wanted to ensure that the national government is ready to augment its resources should the local government units run out of their supplies.

“Hindi tayo tumitigil na makipag-coordinate sa local government officials ng Ilocos Norte kasi alam natin na apektado rin sila pati na rin sa Cordillera region,” Gatchalian said in an interview.

“Yung coordination between the national government and local government napakaimportante niyan. Alam natin na ang local government ang first to respond,” he added.

Aside from close coordination, Gatchalian said President Marcos has also ordered them to ensure that there is enough supply of food to the affected residents in ‘Egay’-hit areas and provide all their needs.

Gatchalian said the national government is now focused on ensuring the safety of the residents in Cagayan Valley and in some other areas in Northern Luzon where super typhoon Egay is expected to hit.

He added the government is also giving attention to the residents in Occidental Mindoro due to heavy flooding in the area brought about by the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

“Sa utos ng ating Pangulo: una, masigurado na ang lahat ng lumikas may sapat na pagkain at may sapat na probisyon na non-food, ‘yung mga hygiene packs, ‘yung mga beddings; pangalawa, ‘yung mga wala sa evacuation center dapat masakop din ng ating tulong,” he said.

“Those areas ang ating areas of concentration. We’ve also coordinated closely with the respective governors and city mayors and municipal mayors ng mga nasabing lugar as early as yesterday,” he added.

Gatchalian stood firm that the Marcos administration is ready.

1.3 million food packs

Responding to the directives of President Marcos to provide for all the needs of the residents in areas affected by super typhoon Egay, Secretary Gatchalian said they have already distributed on Tuesday food packs for 1.3 million families.

“As of yesterday, ang ulat nga namin 1.3 million family food packs ang nakakalat sa 16 na regions ng ating bansa, at sa iba’t-ibang mga probinsya,” Secretary Gatchalian said on Wednesday when asked about the government’s preparations about super typhoon Egay.

“Ang paradigm at ang marching order ng ating Pangulo, hindi ‘yung ‘pag may bagyo lang saka kami magpapadala ng goods. Kung hindi nandoon na ‘yung goods, bago pa man dumating ang bagyo,” he added.

Secretary Gatchalian said around 80,000 to 100,000 of the 1.3 million food packs were already distributed on Tuesday in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. (PND)