President Marcos urges LGUs: Address special concerns of Enteng victims

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday ordered national agencies and local government units (LGUs) to immediately address special concerns of those who were affected by Tropical Storm Enteng.

The President made the statement at a situation briefing in Antipolo, Rizal as some areas or barangays may not have received any aid from the government yet.

Enteng left 16 people dead and affected 8,036 families in Rizal. 

The storm also damaged the Rizal Provincial Hospital system, pegged at P533,700. 

Marcos ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to carry on its distribution of relief goods to affected residents.

He also directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to closely coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways for clearing operations. 

According to Rizal Gov. Nina Ynares, Enteng dumped one month’s rain in Rizal in just four days and “the damage is quite big.” 

Ynares said the damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the province was estimated at more than P300 million and P30 million, respectively. 

The President also renewed his call to study the building of weirs in waterways to mitigate flooding in Rizal and nearby areas.

Marcos said weirs are not like dams but they are capable of controlling the flow of the river. 

“It’s just that I see them in other places and it’s really effective,” he said.

The DSWD is also preparing food packs for possible weather disturbances that could still develop in the country.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency has “enough resources” for Enteng relief operations and future weather disturbances.

Dumlao said they have adequate supply of family food packs amounting to 1.7 million packs and other relief items for augmentation to LGUs.

The DSWD is making the preparation amid reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that several tropical cyclones could develop within the Philippine area of responsibility in the next two weeks.

The agency is also in close coordination with other government agencies as part of the preparation for the possible effects of the forecast tropical cyclones. — Sheila Crisostomo