President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. went to Batanes on Friday to personally assist victims of Typhoon Julian.

“Kaya’t kami’y nandito para matignan kung ano ba talaga ‘yung inyong mga pangangailangan. At mabuti na lang at bago dumating ‘yung bagyo ay nakapagdala na kami ng libo-libo na food pack. Kaya’t noong pagdaan nung bagyo nakapag-distribute kaagad,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos said the Office of the President (OP) will release PhP25 million in financial assistance to typhoon victims, along with PhP15 million from the office of Speaker Martin Romualdez of the House of Representatives.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will release PhP10,000 each to typhoon victims, along with 14,000 boxes of food packs and other non-food items, the President added.

The DSWD has provided PhP2.78 million worth of assistance to affected families while the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) gave 10 kilos of rice to each of the 4,000 beneficiaries.

After the distribution of aid, President Marcos assured the government will start rebuilding the damaged houses. The provincial government has already started distributing housing materials.

The provincial government also provided 800 pieces of galvanized iron sheets and 800 pieces of lumber to typhoon victims.

“Hangga’t may kailangan sabihan niyo lang kami,” President Marcos told residents as he emphasized that the national government is closely working with the provincial government to ensure that everyone gets the assistance.

Around 7,088 families or 21,348 individuals were affected by Typhoon Julian in Batanes, with 23 families or 87 individuals taking shelter at evacuation centers. The typhoon left around 196 totally damaged houses and 1,388 partially damaged.

Eight were reportedly injured in Basco, while no major flooding incident or damage to infrastructure was reported. All national roads are still passable. | PND