President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured earthquake victims in Mindanao that they will receive all the necessary assistance from the government as he visited them on Thursday to personally oversee the disaster response of various government agencies.

In an interview with members of the media, President Marcos said that the government has already prepared all the necessary assistance and relief operations to earthquake victims, except on the rebuilding of their houses as the region continued to experience aftershocks.

“Pati ‘yung mga rebuilding, hindi pa natin puwedeng simulan dahil may aftershocks pa. Ang problema sa lindol, walang forecast – hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari,” President Marcos said in an interview.

“But mayroon tayong – lahat ng assistance, pangangailangan ng mga inabutan, ‘yung mga nawalan ng bahay, yung mga mangingisda, yung mga injured – lahat ‘yan patuloy na magbibigay ang DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development] ng assistance,” he added.

President Marcos visited General Santos City on Thursday to personally monitor the conditions of the earthquake victims, a few hours after he sat in a briefing with government officials on the condition of the flood victims in Eastern and Northern Samar.

The chief executive emphasized that the government will not abandon the earthquake victims.

“Hanggang matapos, titignan natin … So, we will have to prioritize that in the recovery,” President Marcos said, referring to the condition of the earthquake victims in Mindanao.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Sarangani Province on Friday. PND