Marcos vows continuous aid for storm victims

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday gave assurances of speedy reconstruction of houses and other infrastructure destroyed by Typhoon Marce in Cagayan.

"One department cannot do it all. That is why we call for a whole-of-government approach. This means different departments will do their part to give relief and rescue the people," he said in Filipino as he led the distribution of financial aid to typhoon victims in the town of Buguey.

He vowed that the government would not abandon victims until they fully recovered. He said the aid provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would continue.

Marcos handed over P10 million each to the municipalities of Aparri, Buguey, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Gattaran, Gonzaga and Santa Ana.

DSWD distributed 1,800 food packs. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) doled out 200 packs of rice and 20 boxes of sardines, and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), 1,000 packs of rice.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) handed farmers over P866.3 million worth of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discounts, vegetable seeds, native chickens and ducks.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Sunday reported one Marce-related death.

Another person was also reported as missing in the Ilocos Region.

Marce had affected 261,787 people or 76,622 families in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Close to 27,000 people were displaced, and 13,887 stayed in evacuation centers.

Damage to infrastructure in Cagayan Valley was placed at P25,398,600.

Nearly 900 houses were destroyed, and 20,038 damaged by Marce.

As Marce exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, another severe tropical storm, "Nika," was approaching the country.

On Sunday, Metro Manila was placed under Signal No. 1 as Nika neared typhoon strength.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Signal No. 2 was raised over the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and Baler), Isabela, Quirino, the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran and Lasam), Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora and Pudtol), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao and San Jose City), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Narvacan, Nagbukel, Cervantes, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Maria, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin and Sugpon), La Union, and the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan and Tayug).

Also under Signal No. 1 were the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe and San Narciso), the rest of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pila and Victoria), the eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, General Nakar, Lucban, City of Tayabas and Lucena City) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot and Rapu-Rapu).

Nika was estimated 380 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), with winds of 110 kph and gusts of up to 135 kph.

Nika might make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora either Monday morning or afternoon.

The storm could exit PAR by Tuesday afternoon.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Sunday directed regional directors to make the necessary preparations ahead of Nika.

During a meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro, who also serves as chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), emphasized the importance of coordinated disaster preparedness,

Defense Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV urged regional directors to activate their regional interagency coordinating cells to ensure effective communication and prompt preparedness measures.

Director Agnes Palacio from the Office of Civil Defense also dwelt on the need for public awareness, instructing local authorities to not only distribute information but also to utilize it for planning and precautionary measures.

As part of the safety measures, all marine activities in the affected regions are to be canceled.

Provincial disaster responders in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and Batanes have been alerted anew in the wake of Nika's approach.

WITH FRANCIS EARL CUETO, ARLIE O. CALALO AND PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY