Marcos visits calamity areas in North

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos vowed to provide the needs of areas affected by Typhoon Egay and to have their electricity restored as he visited the provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan yesterday.

During his visit to the three provinces, Marcos presided over situation briefings on the effects of Egay (Doksuri) and distributed assistance to local governments.

Marcos, also the agriculture secretary, cited the need to ensure that typhoon-hit areas would have enough supply of rice. He said the government has to look for rice suppliers so that the National Food Authority could extend the necessary emergency support.

“Again, rice, for me, is the most important,” the President said during a situation briefing with disaster management and local officials in Abra.

He reiterated that the government won’t import rice unless the supply becomes so low and prices are already inaccessible to ordinary consumers.

During a situation briefing in Cagayan, Marcos said he is eyeing a deal to acquire rice from India as he admitted being worried about a possible spike in the prices of the commodity.

“I’m thinking about the national supply for rice because everything is being imported by Indonesia, Vietnam has closed its doors and we are looking for a new source. India also closed its doors, but I think I can make a deal with India. Maybe we can talk to someone there. But we have to start importing already,” the Chief Executive said.

“Everybody is preparing for El Niño. Everyone in Southeast Asia will buy simultaneously. I am nervous. Prices will rise again even if we import. That is the problem that I see,” he added.

Marcos cited the need to look into local vegetable supply and to identify measures that would make prices stable, noting that Benguet’s vegetable farms were also hit by the weather disturbance.

Aside from ensuring sufficient rice supply, the government also seeks to restore the power supply in typhoon-struck parts of Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Marcos said.

Citing Department of Energy data, Marcos said the province of Ilocos Sur is at 37 percent in terms of energy restoration while Cagayan is at 42 percent. Bangued, the capital of Abra, is at 86 percent.

Marcos admitted that the huge number of toppled poles and power lines would make it difficult to restore power immediately. ?“That’s why it’s going to take a little time. So, of course, we’re going to do it as quickly as possible, but… we cannot rush it. It has to be done properly otherwise, the substations would be damaged,” he said in Filipino.

Marcos gave assurance that government assistance in affected provinces is in place.

“The emergency needs are there – the food, shelter, even the communication, the water supply. Those things are in place and are ready,” he said during a relief distribution at the Bangued town plaza. ?“We have prepared. We have readied a lot of food packs. The most important water supply will follow and also the electricity,” he added.

Marcos personally delivered relief supplies and cash assistance to Abrenian families in Bangued.

He also extended cash assistance to various local government units, including the provincial governments of Abra, Benguet and Mountain Province, as well as all towns in Abra.

Sen. Imee Marcos, the President’s elder sister, and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian were welcomed by Abra leaders led by Rep. Ching Bernos, her husband former congressman and now La Paz town mayor JB Bernos, national president of the League of Mayors; Abra Gov. Dominic Valera and his daughter Vice Gov. Joy Bernos and Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David Peredo.

Around 600 residents of Barangay Sta. Rosa in Bangued also received family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Abra has been placed under state of calamity because of floods and damage to its infrastructure and agriculture.

In a Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) resolution, local legislators cited massive displacements of villagers because of damage from strong winds and torrential rains.

The extreme weather disturbance also caused severe damage to agricultural crops and livestock.

Infrastructure and government buildings and facilities were also heavily damaged, the Abra SP said, while the Abra Electric Cooperative reported power outages throughout the province as electric posts, wires and facilities were toppled.