MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday called on Filipinos to share their blessings during the Christmas season with those who have been affected by tropical cyclones as he assured the public that relief efforts are underway in areas hit by Super Typhoon Pepito.
“I hope when Christmas comes, we Filipinos will remember our countrymen who were devastated,” Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the 49th National Prayer Breakfast at Malacañang.
“I hope that somehow, the things we intend as Christmas presents, let us just give these to those affected as they are suffering,” he added.
The government has been monitoring updates on Pepito and is set to conduct rescue and relief operations in affected areas, according to the President.
“We will now carry on with the rescue of those isolated areas and the continuing relief for those who ... have been displaced and have no means to prepare their own meals and have no water supplies... Rebuilding will start to continue as well,” he said.
Marcos said he was saddened by the report that one fatality has been recorded in Camarines Norte.
“You know, my feelings about that is that one casualty is one casualty too many, so that is unfortunate,” he said.
“However, I still would like to congratulate – we need to thank the first responders, the LGUs (local government units) and everyone who has been working. This is their sixth (cyclone). I’m sure that they are exhausted. I am sure that they have done – they continue to do and work as hard as they can,” he added.
For the Chief Executive, Pepito’s effects were not “as bad as we had feared,” noting that local residents have been following the bulletins issued by the government.
Appeal for donations
The Diocese of Virac, Catanduanes, one the provinces hit hard by Pepito, is soliciting donations to those badly affected by the super typhoon.
The diocese posted on its social media account its appeal for donations, according to CBCPNews.
The diocese lamented that Pepito had left many people with “devastated homes, disrupted livelihoods and shattered hopes.”
“The island province of Catanduanes needs your help,” the diocese said.
“We humbly appeal for your generosity and kindness to support them in this difficult time,” it added.
The diocese said that any donations will make a difference in the lives of typhoon victims.
The diocese emphasized that donations, no matter the size, will help rebuild lives and restore hope for the affected communities.
“Your donations, big or small, will make a difference in rebuilding lives and restoring hope,” it said.
The tropical cyclone brought maximum wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour as it made its first landfall in the province late Saturday.
The typhoon reportedly uprooted trees, downed power lines and damaged homes in Catanduanes.
Agriculture damage
In a related development, a ranking official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday said that damage of the five consecutive tropical cyclones – Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika and Ofel – to the agriculture sector had reached more than P10 billion, adding that it is expected to further go up as it does not include the devastation caused by Pepito.
DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa estimated that for rice production alone, the damage had already totaled P6 billion.
“The bulk came from Kristine, followed by Nika. The combined effect of Nika and Ofel amounted to P250 million. This does not include the damage of Pepito,” De Mesa said.
“Next to the P6-billion damage to the rice production is from the high value commercial crops amounting to more than P2 billion,” he added.
Before the devastations caused by these cyclones, at least 800,000 metric tons in production losses had already been recorded in the palay production amid the impact of the previous El Niño episode and other weather disturbances, according to the agriculture official. — Bella Cariaso, Evelyn Macairan, Sheila Crisostomo