Marcos provides P50 million aid for Catanduanes typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines — Days after Super Typhoon Pepito battered Catanduanes, President Marcos visited the province yesterday to assess the extent of damage caused by the calamity and distribute aid to affected communities.

Marcos turned over P50 million in assistance to the provincial government and assured residents that Malacañang is exhausting all means to provide their needs.

Upon arrival, Marcos, accompanied by Gov. Joseph Cua, conducted an aerial inspection of the areas hit by the typhoon.

Marcos directed the immediate provision of relief goods, shelter assistance and restoration of communication and power systems in affected areas.

He said the relief assistance would continue until the people recover from the impact of Pepito.

“There is no deadline to this (aid). As long as you need food packs, we will send these to you,” the President said during his visit to an evacuation center in Virac.

Marcos witnessed the distribution of food packs worth P633,000 and cash assistance amounting to P2.5 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Up to 1,000 family food packs were distributed by the DSWD in several barangays in Virac.

The food packs were on top of the P5,000 cash assistance extended by the agency to 500 families.

Marcos said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is assessing the damage caused by Pepito to the local abaca industry.

Abaca production is a major industry in Catanduanes, particularly in its capital Virac.

The President ordered the DA and the Department of Labor and Employment to coordinate recovery initiatives such as the cash-for-work program.

Eleven of 16 municipalities in Catanduanes were severely affected by Pepito.

Marcos presided over a briefing with local government officials and concerned agencies on the extent of damage caused by Pepito in the province.