The national government will be extending more than P100 million in additional assistance to Masbate to help in the rehabilitation of the province worst hit by Typhoon Opong (international name: Bualoi) last week.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Wednesday ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release P100 million in Local Government Support Fund to the local government, upon the request of Masbate Governor Richard Kho.
During the distribution of assistance to the affected families in Masbate City on Wednesday, Marcos said the government would provide continued support to them including food, medicine, and cash assistance, until necessary.
‘Do not worry, the government’s support will continue for as long as you need it. Even if it takes some time because your homes are not yet repaired, we are already here extending our support,’ the President said in his remarks at Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City.
‘No one will be left behind. Even after the typhoon has passed, your government will still be here. We will not leave until all evacuees and everyone affected by the typhoon are back on their feet and have recovered,’ he added.
The President told Masbate residents not to hesitate in asking for help from the government-either from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or their city and provincial government. During his visit, the President led distribution of family food packs, hygiene kits, 10-meter laminated sacks, water filtration kits and the P10,000 cash assistance each to 600 families through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), amounting to P264.96 million. Marcos also announced the P28 million worth of aid released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to the provincial government of Masbate intended for livelihood assistance and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged Workers (Tupad) beneficiaries.
Marcos also ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to rehabilitate the 806 damaged classrooms in the province within a month.
Aside from the distribution of aid, he also visited Masbate Provincial Hospital to personally inspect its damaged facilities.
Marcos turned over a facsimile check worth P3 million from the Department of Health (DOH) to the provincial government for repair works.