There will be no room for partisan politics in President Duterte's resolve to provide swift relief and rehabilitation assistance to Catanduanes and other areas ravaged by typhoon “Rolly” last weekend, Malacañang said Thursday.
The President will not neglect the people affected by Rolly and instead help ensure their recovery from the calamity, according to his spokesman Harry Roque.
"Sa mga taga-Catanduanes, unang-una hindi kayo pababayaan, hindi kayo kalilimutan ng Presidente. Narito tayo ngayon sa Ground Zero para ipakita ang suporta ng Presidente sa lahat ng mga naging biktama ng super typhoon Rolly (To the people of Catanduanes, first the President will not neglect you, he will not forget you. We are here at Ground Zero to show the President's support to all the victims of typhoon Rolly)," he said during a televised press briefing in Catanduanes.
"Lahat ng pangangailangan ninyo sisikapin na dalhin ito by air, by land, by sea. Huwag kayong mag-atubili dahil ang Presidente walang politika 'yan, lahat ng mga nangangailangan bibigyan ng tulong (We will try to bring all your needs by air, land, and sea. Do not doubt because the President serves without partisan politics. All those in need will be given assistance)," he said.
Roque said the President would not allow any shortage of food and water for the people of Catanduanes and other typhoon-hit places.
Rolly barreled across Bicol region and Southern Luzon last weekend, leaving a massive trail of destruction. The death toll has climbed to 24 while damage to infrastructure and agriculture reached billions of pesos.
Catanduanes, one of the hardest hit areas, is now under a state of calamity after the typhoon destroyed houses, toppled power lines, and destroyed abaca plantations.
Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua, in the televised press conference, appealed for government assistance to help rehabilitate the province after the onslaught of the tropical cyclone.
Cua said the typhoon has killed six persons, affected 142,778, damaged 10,448 houses, and partially damaged 19,262 others. Around 7,814 evacuees are staying in government evacuation centers while 45,886 are seeking shelter in private houses.
He said the damage caused by the typhoon to agriculture is estimated at P1.4 billion. Damage to the abaca industry is pegged at P1.29 billion.
Government facilities incurred damage worth P470 million. Off 11 towns, three municipalities still have impassable roads due to landslides. "Clearing operations by the PNP engineering and Philippine Army are ongoing. Hopefully within one or two days, all 11 towns will be passable," the Catanduanes governor said.
Water supply is down while 90 percent of electric posts were damaged, according to Cua. Telecommunications remained problematic. "Only Virac has signal from Smart and Globe," he added.