Marcos Jr. visits Uwan-hit Catanduanes

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos on Thursday visited Catanduanes, which was among the provinces severely devastated by Super Typhoon Uwan, and ordered concerned government agencies to provide assistance until residents fully recover from the calamity.

Marcos directed the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to provide cash assistance to residents whose homes were destroyed during the typhoon.

The President inspected damaged classrooms in Tubli Elementary School and donated two units of Starlink internet satellite to the school and to the municipal government of Caramoran.

Repair of police stations ordered

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered the immediate repair and rehabilitation of police stations and facilities damaged by Uwan.

The PNP said that among the hardest hit was the Casiguran police station in Aurora where strong winds destroyed the barracks, forcing officers to take temporary shelter in an empty detention cell.

“We are expediting all necessary procedures to start the repair and rehabilitation of our damaged facilities,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said. “We are also extending assistance to our personnel who were affected by the typhoon.”

The provincial government of Aurora has declared a state of calamity due to massive damage caused by Uwan.

Gov. Isidro Galban on Wednesday signed the declaration upon the recommendation of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council.

In Nueva Vizcaya, initial damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Uwan was estimated at P305 million. – Michael Punongbayan, Artemio Dumlao, Ric Sapnu