Marcos leads aid distribution in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines — After drawing flak over his physical absence at two government briefings on the damage and death toll from Tropical Storm Paeng’s onslaught, President Marcos led yesterday the distribution of relief goods to storm victims in Cavite.

He called for a long-term solution to the perennial flood problem in the country as well as strict implementation of preemptive evacuation once a cyclone warning comes out.

At a ceremonial distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s assistance to families and individuals affected by Paeng in Noveleta, Cavite, Marcos highlighted again the importance of conducting preemptive evacuation in minimizing casualties during natural disasters.

“That’s why I always insist and remind all of our NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) that the most important thing when we know a typhoon is coming is that we have a pre-emptive evacuation… so that if the storm passes these areas people will not be victimized,” the President told the crowd in Filipino.

“So that’s what happened here. In my opinion, even though the calamity was of such extent, the number of casualties is not that big,” Marcos said.

The President, however, noted Paeng’s damage to infrastructure in Cavite was significant.

“(Paeng’s) wind was not very strong but there was a lot of water. And our flood control couldn’t handle it anymore,” he said.

“What we are concerned about is the infrastructure damaged because there are many damaged flood controls,” Marcos said after conducting an aerial inspection of the affected areas.

“So that’s what we have to look at – we will have a long-term plan so that even if there’s so much water, the soil will not collapse and we will not have landslides,” Marcos said.

The President said a flood control project to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency is likely to be approved by the provincial government.

“So that is long term. But in the short term, I think more or less we are able to take care of the victims, so we are at the stage now of rebuilding,” Marcos told reporters.

The municipality of Noveleta is one of the hardest-hit areas in Cavite as severe rains in the uplands caused heavy flooding leading to the destruction of a river wall near the Ylang-Ylang River.

Around 18,000 families have been evacuated in Cavite, according to authorities.

Among the officials who joined the President during the distribution of cash assistance and situation briefing were Sen. Bong Revilla, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla and Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo.

‘Welcome to Hokkaido’

Before ending his press briefing yesterday, Marcos joked around with journalists, saying “Welcome to Hokkaido” – an apparent jab at online critics who claimed he was in Japan at the height of Paeng after being physically absent in two government situation briefings.

Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil confirmed that the President was in his home province Ilocos Norte after photos of Marcos, together with his son Vincent and nephew, Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, at the Dawang’s Eatery in Laoag circulated on social media on Sunday.

Marcos presided over a command conference on Paeng on Saturday via video conference.

The President, however, was absent during a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Sunday, which was attended by Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. and other Cabinet officials.

Marcos earlier expressed dismay over the high number of casualties from Paeng, saying the government “could have done better.”