Malacañang assures help for typhoon Mario victims in Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos meets DILG Sec. Mar Roxas at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol (Lei Adriano)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Touching down at the Laoag International Airport on Sept. 22, Dept. of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas along with Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Rep. Rodolfo Farinas  (1^st district, Ilocos Norte) and party arrived in the province to assure Ilocanos help is on the way to fast track recovery of typhoon victims in the province.

In a briefing held at the Ilocos Norte Capitol attended by department heads and various local and national government agencies including Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson, Mr. Roxas said good coordination of both the national and local governments in times of disaster helped a lot in ensuring public safety and preparedness.

Responding to Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos’ call for help, a C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force containing over 3,000 food packs from the national headquarters of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office arrived in Laoag City earlier on the evening of Sept. 21 to assist about 6,698 families affected by typhoon.

Upon hearing the concerns of Ilocanos hard hit by typhoon Mario and aggravated by the southwest monsoon rains that flooded at least 4,541 houses, Mr. Roxas said the DSWD and the Dept. of Agriculture will provide immediate assistance in the form of cash-for-work and food-for-work program of the national government for the next three months including the release of certified seeds and fertilizer to affected farmers.

 

A PAF C130 plane touches down at the Laoag Int'l Airport bringing in relief goods. (Alaric Yanos) 

Also, homeowners of the 177 totally damaged houses will be given financial assistance pegged at P7,000 each and P5,000 each for the at least 195 partially damaged houses.

Ms. Marcos and Mr., Singson likewise appealed to the national government to immediately release their provinces’ share of RA 7171 or the tobacco excise tax  for the repair and rehabilitation of long time dilapidated irrigation systems and dams of Ilocos Norte.

So far, only 38 percent of the two cities and 21 municipalities remain energized as it may take at least four more days for linemen of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative to fully energize the whole province.  

With the help of Ilocanos here and abroad jointly with the national government and attached agencies, Ms. Marcos said: “Early recovery is possible at least in the province of Ilocos Norte.”

Meanwhile, in Ilocos Sur Mr. Singson said at least 14 of their upland towns remain isolated as of press time and reports of partial damages have risen over P82 million in agriculture. 

He said estimated worth of damages may get worse by doubling or tripling the amount of initial reported damages as they have yet to receive reports from the isolated  barangays in Ilocos Sur.