MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave his assurance to the families whose houses were completely destroyed by the massive flooding in Bulacan that housing, construction materials and other assistance will be provided by the government, as he led the distribution of aid in the province on Monday.
In his speech during the distribution of aid in Malolos City, Bulacan, President Marcos said that the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the National Housing Authority (NHA) are on standby to provide financial help to residents who were left homeless due to flooding.
President Marcos emphasized that the government wanted to ensure that flood victims will be able to rebuild their houses after the disaster.
“Mayroon naman nasiraan talaga ng bahay, completely destroyed ang nakalagay sa report. ‘Yung mga completely destroyed ay magbibigay din tayo ng construction material para naman mayroong maipatayo,” President Marcos told the flood victims.
“Kung hindi na talaga pwede ay magbigay tayo, maghahanap tayo ng housing. Ang Department of Human Settlements ay nandiyan. Nandiyan din ang NHA para tulungan ang mga nasira talaga ang mga bahay at magkaroon na ng permanent na housing na maganda,” he added.
The President also said he will order DHSUD to study the possibility of stockpiling construction materials in order to meet the needs of families after a calamity.
After the situation briefing, the President distributed the cash assistance to the local government officials of the affected areas in Bulacan to cover the damage caused by the recent calamity.
The provincial government of Bulacan received Php15 million, representing the first tranche of the Php20 million allotted for the province. The City of Malolos, and the towns of San Miguel, Hagonoy, Pulilan, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, Bustos, Calumpit, Paombong and Bulakan, all received Php2 million, representing the first tranche of the Php3 million in aid.
In its report, the Provincial Government of Bulacan said that 100 percent, or 24 cities and municipalities, of the province were affected by flooding due to the onslaught of super typhoon Egay, the southwest monsoon, and typhoon Falcon.
Some 296,426 families, or 1,080,883 individuals, were affected by the flooding, leaving a total of Php 768,671,475.00 worth of loss and damage, with Php 244,410,675.00-damage in agriculture; Php 24,260.800.00-damage in livestock and poultry; and, Php 500,000,000.00-damage in infrastructure.
Before the flooding occurred, President Marcos said that the government has already provided various forms of assistance, such as food and cash aid, to the residents of Bulacan through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“Ang una, dahil ‘pag relief na ganyan, ang inuuna po natin ay ang pagbibigay ng pagkain, pagbigay ng tubig. Pagkatapos noon susunod na po ay mga cash na, dahil iba-iba ‘yung pangangailangan ng bawat mga pamilya,” President Marcos said.
“Kaya't patuloy pa rin yung mga food pack. Patuloy pa rin ‘yung mga pagamot. Patuloy pa rin ‘yung mga ibibigay para sa ating mga naging biktima. Ngunit habang tumatagal ang panahon ay ihahanda din namin, mayroon ding cash para naman kung ano ‘yung pangangailangan ninyo ay magamit ninyo para pambili,” he added.
Noting the unpredictable weather condition in the Philippines, President Marcos said that this could be due to the effects of climate change.
With this, the President underscored the need to adjust to the changing weather patterns and to strengthen the government’s climate change mitigation programs.
“Kailangan natin gawin lahat upang pag-aralan kung papaano ang mararamdaman natin dito sa problema ng climate change. Ano ‘yung ating gagawin upang hindi na nga magkabiktima, hindi na maulit itong ganitong klaseng pagbabaha,” President Marcos said.
“Kaya po marami po tayong planong ginagawa. Ngunit sa ngayon, dahil emergency, ang mga pangangailangan na emergency, nandito po ang mga ibibigay ng DSWD. Nandito po, mayroon po silang ‘yung food packs na tinatawag, at pagkain,” he added.
President Marcos said that he also visited Bulacan to ensure a smooth distribution of food and financial assistance to the affected residents and communities. (PND)
