GINGOOG CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA)--The Local Government of Gingoog is thankful for the support it is getting from the national government in helping its constituents recover from the effects of massive flooding.

In a situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., City Mayor Erick Cañosa said the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-10 provided 184 family packs, 131 shelter repair kits, and 600 blankets to the affected families.

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 gave P6.78 million in aid, of which P6.24 million was used to buy food packs for families and P500 thousand was spent on bottled drinking water.

Cañosa also said around P16.8 million in assistance had already been provided to 3,359 families through the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) as of January 10, 2023.

On January 11, an additional 1,500 families received food packs and P5,000 in cash assistance. The distribution, held at the Arturo Lugod Memorial Sports and Cultural Center, was led by President Marcos Jr.

"Kami ay na-surprise na, for the first time after 16 years, ang Pangulo ng ating bansa ay pumunta dito sa Gingoog. Maraming salamt sa tulong at suporta niyo sa Gingoog City at Misamis Oriental," Cañosa told the president.

(We were surprised that, for the first time in 16 years, the President of our country came here to Gingoog. Thank you very much for your help and support in Gingoog City and Misamis Oriental)

Marcos said he was glad he got the opportunity to meet the affected families and see the situation on the ground.

"Iba ‘yung nasa Maynila ka lang at nakikita mo sa television, nagbabasa ka ng report. Ibang-iba talaga ‘pag nakarating ka at makita mo ng sarili mo kung ano ba talaga ang naging problema. Kaya’t pinilit ko na makarating dito. Hindi ko naman akalain na 16 years pala ang hinantay ninyo para makabisita ang inyong Pangulo. Well, hindi ko kayo pag-aantayin ng 16 years, asahan ninyo ‘yun," he said.

(It's different when you're in Manila and you see it on television, you read the report. It's really different when you get there and see for yourself what the problem is. So I tried to get here. I had no idea you had to wait 16 years for your president to visit. Well, I won't make you wait for 16 years; expect that)

Aside from the distribution of assistance and the situation briefing with heads of concerned northern Mindanao regional line agencies and local government officials, the President also conducted an aerial inspection of areas affected by the heavy rains in Misamis Oriental. (APB/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)