GINGOOG CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA)–President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered local officials in Misamis Oriental and heads of regional line agencies in northern Mindanao to address the immediate concerns of flood-affected areas and their residents.
“I would just like to focus on the more immediate concerns that we have,” he said during the situation briefing on the effects of shear line in Misamis Oriental, January 11.
The briefing was held after the president conducted an aerial inspection of the affected areas in the province and led the distribution of food packs and P5,000 in cash aid to 1,500 beneficiaries in Gingoog City.
The Chief Executive said they must first make sure that the needs of the evacuees are attended to properly.
3,359 families were provided with relief aid as of January 10, and an additional 1,500 families got their assistance on January 11.
“We have a long way to go. Maybe we can assist the local government so that habang kumukuha sila ng kanilang mga relief goods, family packs, hygiene packs, we can give you some funds para bumili rin kayo para makumpleto na ninyo. Kasi kawawa naman ‘tong mga ‘to. And we don’t know when they will be going back to their homes,” said Marcos.
In terms of infrastructure, he emphasized the need to look into the damage to school buildings. Accordingly, 63 classrooms were flooded as a result of the heavy downpour.
“If the LGUs can take the load, we can send you the three million plus immediately. Kasi ito ‘yung nakalista dito so for the school buildings. I’m talking about the school buildings for the repair. Yeah, do it. By administration na lang para mas mabilis,” the president further said.
At the same time, he directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to fast-track the repair of damaged key infrastructure once flooding has subsided.
“Ang gagawin ng Public Works they will do the assessment first kung anong trabaho ang kailangang gawin. How much was the damage? And then we’ll see how will we correct the damage and kung kaya nating gawin. Because kung mataas pa ang tubig, baka hindi natin magawa kaagad. But siyempre, we will try to do it as quickly as possible,” Marcos added.
The heavy rains caused by the shear line damaged 987 houses and key infrastructures in Gingoog City, including public roads, spillways, and flood controls. (APB/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)
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