President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lauded the local government officials and residents of Siargao on Friday for their resiliency, unity and strength when the island was hit by Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
“I also want to congratulate ang mga local government officials sa inyong pagbangon mula sa naging damage, naging kamatayan dahil [sa] pagdaan ng typhoon Odette,” President Marcos said in his speech during the distribution of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards of the Food Stamp Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).
President Marcos made the remarks while he was extending his gratitude to the local government officials of Surigao del Norte for continuously supporting the programs and advocacies of his administration.
Numerous families were displaced and infrastructures were devastated by Typhoon Odette after it ravaged parts of the Visayas and Mindanao in December 2021. It was the strongest typhoon that hit the Philippines that year.
A couple of years after the typhoon, President Marcos said that he was glad to see that Siargao Island is now slowly going back to its normal state.
“Noong galing kami sa airport at pupunta kami rito, nakakatuwa naman makita na ‘yung mga nagiba, ‘yung mga talagang sira, ay dahan-dahang bumabalik na at masasabi ko, ‘Build Back Better’ ang inyong ginawa,” President Marcos said.
“Ibig sabihin, ‘yung bago ninyong ginagawa na pag-rehab, na newly constructed ay mas maganda doon sa pinapalitan niya. Kaya’t kahit papaano nakikita natin ang katibayan talaga ng loob ng bawat Pilipino, lalong lalo na dito sa Siargao,” he added.
For his part, Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II thanked President Marcos for not abandoning them when Typhoon Odette hit them as he expressed his gratitude to Presidential son William Vincent Araneta Marcos, who they already considered a son of Siargao.
“Ang huling pagkakataon na nakasama natin ang ating Pangulo ay matapos ang Bagyong Odette. Una po siyang pumunta dito nang dumaan si Bagyong Odette … para magdala ng tulong – mga bigas at pagkain at para tayo damayan,” Matugas said.
“Ipinagmamalaki kong iulat na bumalik na ang ganda ng aming isla at kami ay nakabangon na. We are back, Mr. President, sa tulong ninyo. Maraming salamat po sa tulong at suporta ninyo,” he added. | PND
