Families and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) ‘Kristine’ in the Province of Batangas receive financial assistance from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the distribution of presidential assistance to select farmers, fisherfolk and their families.
More than 4,000 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Talisay, Laurel, and Agoncillo received Php10,000 each under the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) during the consecutive aid distribution in Talisay and Laurel, Batangas on Monday (November 4).
Both PAFFF events in Batangas were supervised by Secretary Gatchalian and other key government officials including Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Anton Lagdameo.
After the aid giving, the President, together with Secretary Gatchalian and other Cabinet officials, attended a Holy Mass in memory of the people who perished during the onslaught of STS Kristine at Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay, Batangas.
The President issued Proclamation No. 728, series 2024 on October 30 declaring November 4 as a Day of National Mourning “in solidarity with the bereaved families and loved ones of those who perished due to the devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.” (YDP)
PBBM, DSWD chief hand out cash aid to Batangas farmers, fisherfolk affected by ‘Kristine’
In line with the administration’s continuous effort to assist the families and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm ‘Kristine, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and other Cabinet officials, led the distribution of presidential assistance to select farmers, fisherfolk and their families in the province of Batangas.
Secretary Gatchalian assisted President Marcos in handing out financial assistance to more than 4,000 beneficiaries during the consecutive aid distributions in the municipalities of Talisay and Laurel in Batangas province on Monday (November 4).
“Nais ko pong ipaabot ang aming taos-pusong pakikiramay sa bawat Pilipino na naapektuhan ng bagyong ‘Kristine’. Itinalaga natin ang araw na ito bilang National Day of Mourning sa ilalaim ng Proclamation No. 728. Batid namin na hindi madaling maibsan ang sakit na inyong pinagdadaanan ngunit umaasa kami na sa suportang handog ngayon, kayo ay makapagsimula muli,” President Marcos said during the cash aid giving to Talisay residents.
The beneficiaries from the municipalities of Laurel, Talisay, and Agoncillo received Php10,000 each under the agency’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“Makaaasa kayo na ang pamahalaan ay patuloy na kabalikat ninyo sa pag-ahon mula sa hamong ito. Ang Tanggapan ng Pangulo, sa pamamagitan ng DSWD, ay magbabahagi ng Php60 million na tulong sa anim na munisipalidad ng Batangas, kasama ang bayan ng Laurel,” the President said in his message to the residents of Laurel town.
Among the assistance provided by the chief executive was a check worth Php10 million from the Office of the President (OP) to each of the local government units (LGUs) of Talisay, Agoncillo, Lemery, Cuenca, Balete and Laurel.
The President said he reiterated his directives to all the government agencies on strengthening the disaster management to prevent the loss of life due to calamities.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), of which the DSWD is the vice-chair for Disaster Response, was tasked to check its disaster response strategies and procedures to ensure immediate assistance to affected communities.
“Layunin natin na hindi na maulit ang pagkawala ng buhay dahil sa kalamidad. Totoo na mas matindi ang mga bagyo ngayon—mas malawak, mas malakas, mas mabili ang pagbabago. Kaya inulit ko ang mga kautusan sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan… Ang NDRRMC at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan ay naatasan na rin na suriin ang kanilang pamamaraan sa ilalim ng disaster response upang mas mabilis tayong makapaghatid ng tulog sa mga naapektuhan na pamayanan,” President Marcos pointed out.
Based on the November 4 Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) report of the DSWD, a total of 241,516 families or 1,024,780 individuals were affected by STS ‘Kristine’.
The Cabinet officials who were present during the aid distributions include Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio “Anton” Lagdameo Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jerry Acuzar.
