MANILA, Philippines -- Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Monday said that she is not closing the door on aid from organizations and from other nations but said the government still needs to assess what typhoon-hit areas in Cagayan and Isabela need.
"Hindi ho tayo nagsasabi [na] 'kayang-kaya na natin ito'," she said in a press briefing at the Palace.
"Sa tingin ko, handa tayong tanggapin ang tulong na ito batay sa ating pangangailangan at batay sa walang kondisyon. Ibig sabihin, bukal na loob na tulong ng mga mamamayan ng mga organisasyon, ng mga pamahalaan sa ibang bansa para tulungan tayong bumangon," she also said.
READ: DSWD chief Taguiwalo: Foreign aid not needed now
"Ang sinasabi natin nakayanan natin itong mga nakaraang araw," she said.
She said she and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are still assessing the damage done by typhoons Karen and Lawin, saying that extensive damage was done in terms of agriculture and livestock as well as to structures like offices, schools, and houses.
Taguiwalo also said that they will have an assessment as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, assessing how extensive the damage was done and how much is needed to repair the damage and will be looking into who are offering help.
She also said that all this depends on the extent of what the country needs.
"Patuloy ang pagtatasa natin, pag-assess ng extent ng damage at nagpapasalamat ho tayo sa mga kaibigan, na mga indibidwal, organisasyon at ibang bayan na nagpaabot na na handa silang tumulong," Taguiwalo said.