The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday assured communities battered by Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon of continuous aid in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help storm-hit Filipinos restore normalcy.
“Handa naman ang pamahalaan kasi nakalatag ang mga programs ng gobyerno bago dumating o pag dumating na ‘yung bagyo. Kahit na ang dinadanas natin at ang dinanas natin [ay] talaga namang malawak na kalamidad, maaasahan n’yo ang pamahalaan natin sa pagtutulungan ng lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno,” OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said over PTV-4.
“At again sa utos ni Presidente Bongbong Marcos at ang mga kapartner natin sa mga local governments units, pagtutulung-tulungan namin ito. Iyong mga kababayan natin lalung lalo na sa Batanes, huwag po kayong mag-alala at handa naman kaming tumulong kaagad. Gumanda lang [ng] konti ang panahon nandiyan ho ang tulong darating po sa inyo ‘yan. Commitment po sa inyo ‘yan ng pamahalaan,” he added.
Nepomuceno assured the government will continue to help storm victims even as relief efforts are now focused on Super Typhoon Leon’s victims.
More than 300,000 families are sheltering in evacuation centers and receiving government aid following Kristine’s onslaught last week. Currently, Batanes and Babuyan Island are the most affected by Leon, he said.
Government preparations for Leon include advising NDRRMC member agencies, chairperson of RDRRMCs and OCD Regional Office to undertake preparatory measures for Leon and Undas 2024 and prepare for the worst-case scenario due to strong winds and heavy rainfall, the official said.
Meanwhile, the DILG also issued guidance to local chief executives, DILG regional directors, the police and personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection to carry out precautionary measures against Leon. | PND
