Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr in the distribution of relief and cash assistance to families affected by Super Typhoon (ST) Julian in the island province of Batanes and in Ilocos Norte on Friday (October 4).

“Kaya kami narito ay para matignan kung ano ba talaga ang inyong pangangailangan. Mabuti na lamang na bago dumating yung bagyo ay nakapagdala na kami ng libo-libo na family food packs (FFPs) kaya pagdaan ng bagyo ay nakapag-distribute kaagad,” President Marcos said during the relief aid distribution at the Oval Plaza in the municipality of Basco in Batanes.

Secretary Gatchalian, together with Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, oversaw the distribution of 2,000 boxes of FFPs to the affected families.

The DSWD chief also led the financial aid giving, handing out Php3,000 each to some 200 families, under the agency’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

“Tapos ngayon ay ginagawa na natin yung mga intake para sa nangangailangan ng AKAP. Kasi pagkatapos ng food packs, iba’t ibang pangangailangan ang pamilya o bawat bahay, kaya kailangan na kaming magbigay ng cash,” the chief executive pointed out.

The DSWD also distributed family water filtration kits that could provide clean water supply to approximately 100 individuals per bucket in one day, according to President Marcos.

“Mayroon din kaming dala na para sa tubig. Yung mga nakikita nyong balde, may filter ‘yan. Kaya yung balde ay lalagyan natin ng tubig, huwag lang maalat, basta tubig na kahit hindi malinis. Paglabas po nyan sa filter ay pwede nang inumin. Sa isang balde, kayang magpainom ng tubig ng isang daang tao sa isang araw,” the President said in his message.

After visiting the province of Batanes, the presidential team conducted an aerial inspection of Ilocos Norte to assess the damages caused by ST Julian in the province.

Following the inspection, President Marcos, together with Secretary Gatchalian and other heads of government agencies, led the distribution of relief and cash assistance to Julian-affected families.

A total of 10,588 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Piddig, Pagudpud, Bangui, and Laoag City received cash assistance ranging from Php3,000 to Php4,000, depending on the assessment of the DSWD social workers.

The financial aid given was under the AKAP and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the DSWD.

The agency also distributed 800 boxes of FFPs to the affected families.

During the situation briefing on the effects of Typhoon Julian in Ilocos Norte presided over by the President at the Provincial Capitol in Laoag City, Secretary Gatchalian assured the chief executive that the DSWD is ready to deliver more FFPs to Ilocos Norte.

“For Ilocos Norte, we have released, as of yesterday , 15,757 FFPs. We continuously work with the local officials because we are ready to deploy more, Mr. President. As mentioned a while ago, for the region and for Ilocos Norte, we have a standby of close to 100,000 FFPs before the storm hit and we are constantly augmenting that,” Secretary Gatchalian reported to the President.

Aside from Secretary Gatchalian, other Cabinet secretaries who accompanied the President in both aid distributions were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.; Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.; and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan. #

Tagalog Version

DSWD chief, PBBM namahagi ng tulong sa mga pamilyang apektado ni ‘Julian’ sa Batanes, Ilocos Norte

Pinangunahan nina Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian at Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ang pamamahagi ng relief at cash assistance sa mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng Super Typhoon (ST) Julian sa Batanes at Ilocos Norte nitong Biyernes (October 4).

Sa kanyang mensahe, sinabi ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., “Kaya kami narito ay para matignan kung ano ba talaga ang inyong pangangailangan. Mabuti na lamang na bago dumating yung bagyo ay nakapagdala na kami ng libo-libo na family food packs (FFPs) kaya pagdaan ng bagyo ay nakapag-distribute kaagad.”

Ang cash aid at relief distribution ay ginanap sa Oval Plaza sa munisipalidad ng Basco, Batanes.

Pinangasiwaan ni DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, at DSWD Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Diana Rose Cajipe, ang pamimigay ng 2,000 kahon ng family food packs (FFPs) sa mga pamilyang naapektuhan ng bagyo.

Nagbigay din ang DSWD chief ng tulong pinansyal sa halos 200 pamilya, kung saan nakatanggap ang mga ito ng tig Php3,000 bawat isa sa pamamagitan ng Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

“Tapos ngayon ay ginagawa na natin yung mga intake para sa nangangailangan ng AKAP. Kasi pagkatapos ng food packs, iba’t ibang pangangailangan ang pamilya o bawat bahay, kaya kailangan na kaming magbigay ng cash,” ayon sa chief executive.

Bukod naman sa cash aid at relief distribution namahagi din ang ahensya ng family water filtration kits, na magbibigay ng malinis na suplay ng tubig sa humigit kumulang sa 100 katao o isang bucket sa isang araw.

“Mayroon din kaming dala na para sa tubig. Yung mga nakikita nyong balde, may filter ‘yan. Kaya yung balde ay lalagyan natin ng tubig, huwag lang maalat, basta tubig na kahit hindi malinis. Paglabas po nyan sa filter ay pwede nang inumin. Sa isang balde, kayang magpainom ng tubig ng isang daang tao sa isang araw,” sabi pa ng Pangulo.

Samantala, pagkaraan sa Batanes ay nagtungo din ang presidential team sa Ilocos Norte upang magsagawa ng aerial inspection para i-assess ang mga nasira matapos na manalasa ang bagyong Julian.

Kasunod ng isinagawang aerial inspection ay namigay din ng relief at cash aid si Pangulong Marcos kasama sina DSWD Secretary Gatchalian at iba pang opisyal ng gobyerno.

May kabuuang 10,588 beneficiaries mula sa mga munisipalidad ng Piddig, Pagudpud, Bangui, at Laoag City ang nakatanggap ng tulong pinansyal na nagkakahalaga mula Php3,000 hanggang Php4,000, base sa assessment ng social workers.

Ang ipinamahaging tulong pinansyal ay mula naman sa AKAP at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program ng DSWD.

Bukod dito, nagbigay din ang DSWD ng 800 kahon ng family food packs (FFPs) sa mga affected families.

Sa ginanap na situation briefing na pinangunahan ni Pangulong Marcos, hinggil sa mga naging epekto ng bagyong Julian sa lalawigan ng Ilocos Norte, tiniyak ni DSWD Secretary Gatchalian na sapat at nakahanda pang magdagdag ng FFPs ang ahensya kung kakailanganin.

Sa kanyang report sa Pangulo, sinabi ni DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, “for Ilocos Norte, we have released, as of yesterday , 15,757 FFPs. We continuously work with the local officials because we are ready to deploy more, Mr. President. As mentioned a while ago, for the region and for Ilocos Norte, we have a standby of close to 100,000 FFPs before the storm hit and we are constantly augmenting that.”

Bukod kay Secretary Gatchalian, kabilang sa mga Cabinet secretaries na sumama sa aid distributions sina Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr.; Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.; at Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan. #