President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed on Sunday to provide continuous government support to communities affected by Typhoon Marce as he led the distribution of over PHP80 million in financial assistance in Cagayan.

In his speech during the aid distribution in Buguey town, Marcos assured affected residents that government assistance would remain until recovery is complete.

“Hangga’t kailangan, ‘yung mga na-displace na nasira nga ang bahay, walang tirahan kahit kung nasa evacuation center man sila o nasa bahay ng kanilang kamag-anak o kaibigan, ay mag-provide pa rin kami nitong relief goods. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin hangga’t makabalik na sila sa kanilang bahay (As long as necessary, those who have been displaced, whose houses were destroyed, and who have no shelter whether they are in evacuation centers or staying in the homes of their relatives or friends, we will continue to provide these relief goods. We will continue until they can return to their homes),” he said.

“Basta’t may pangangailangan pa kayo ipaabot ninyo sa amin (As long as you have any needs, just let us know).”

Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s “whole-of-government approach” to disaster recovery, highlighting that disaster response requires the involvement of the various departments to bring effective relief and reconstruction.

“Hindi kaya ng isang department gawin lahat. Kaya ang tinatawag po namin, ginagawa po namin ay what we call the whole-of-government approach. Ibig sabihin, lahat ng iba’t ibang departamento kahit papaano ay makakadala ng tulong at makakatulong para mabigyan ng relief, para ma-rescue ang ating mga tauhan, para mabigyan ng relief (One department cannot do everything. That’s why we call what we are doing is what we call the whole-of-government approach. That means, all the different departments, in one way or another, can bring assistance and help to provide relief, to rescue our personnel, to provide relief),” he said.

Marcos handed over PHP10 million each to the municipalities of Aparri, Buguey, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Gattaran, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana.

The funds were received by their respective local chief executives.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed 1,800 food packs, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources supplied 200 packs of five kilograms (kg) rice and 20 boxes of sardines.

Additionally, the National Irrigation Administration provided 1,000 packs of 10-kg rice.

The Department of Agriculture handed over PHP866.3 million in agricultural support, including hybrid rice seeds, vegetable seeds, fertilizer discounts, and livestock such as native chickens and ducks.

“We are here to assist not only farmers but also our fishermen,” Marcos emphasized, noting that Cagayan’s vital aquaculture industry suffered extensive damage to its seafood farms.

Buguey, considered the crab capital of North Luzon, hosts an annual Crab Festival every October to highlight the town’s rich cultural heritage and ecological significance in the region.

The Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) emergency employment program will include the ravaged Cagayan towns; the Department of Education continues to repair school buildings; and the Department of Public Works and Highways is taking care of infrastructure damage, Marcos assured.

Marcos likewise vowed that the government would expedite the reconstruction of homes damaged by Typhoon Marce.

“At ngayon, ngayon dito sa Cagayan, ang dapat talaga nating tingnan ay ang reconstruction dahil ‘yung sa… Sa public infrastructure, okay naman, not so bad. Pero ‘yung mga private na tirahan, ‘yun na nga, nasira. Kaya’t ‘yun ang tututukan natin (And now, now here in Cagayan, what we really need to focus on is the reconstruction because… In terms of public infrastructure, it’s okay, not so bad. But the private residences, those are the ones that were damaged. So that’s what we will focus on),” he said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of Nov. 9, a total of 326,137 family food packs and PHP130.77 million in food and non-food items at DSWD Field Offices-Ilocos and Cagayan Valley are available for augmentation and relief assistance.

The NDRRMC said Marce affected a total of 15,518 families in Cagayan, with 6,395 of them sheltered at evacuation centers.

More than 3,000 families are staying outside the evacuation centers.

Five municipalities experienced flooding in Cagayan while 19 are currently experiencing power interruption, according to NDRRMC.

Two bridges and a road are impassable as of Saturday.

Local officials have requested additional air assets to expedite relief and assessment efforts for isolated areas.

Cagayan province also needs 30,000 boxes of family food packs, construction materials for housing repairs, and assistance with restoring electricity.

Typhoon Marce made landfall in Santa Ana and Sanchez-Mira on Nov. 7 and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Nov. 8. (PNA)