President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng that the government would provide them with what they needed as long as they were in evacuation centers.
Marcos said this as he led the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)'s assistance to those affected by the typhoon at Barangay San Jose II in Noveleta, Cavite, on October 31.
In his speech, the President said he went there to ensure evacuees had food, drinking water, and something they could sleep on.
Marcos added that the government is making sure they can return safely to their homes after the weekend downpour.
"Alam ko naman na pagka ganito lahat ng na-evacuate ay talagang gustong bumalik kaagad (I know that all evacuees want to return to their homes as soon as possible)," he said on Monday.
"Tinitiyak na lang natin na hindi naman magiging delikado ang pagbalik sa inyong mga tahanan, sa inyong mga negosyo (We're just making sure that it won't be dangerous for you when you return to your houses or your businesses)," he added.
While doing so, Marcos said the government would provide the typhoon victims with what they needed while in the evacuation centers.
"Hangga't ang mga evacuees ay nasa evacuaton center, titiyakin natin na meron kayong sapat na sa lahat ng inyong pangangailanagan hangga't makabalik na nga kayo sa inyong mga lugar (While you're here in the evacuation center, we will make sure that you have enough supplies of whatever you need until you can return to your homes)," he said.
The Municipality of Noveleta, along with Kawit, is one of the hardest-hit areas in Cavite as severe rains from the uplands caused heavy flooding leading to the destruction of a river wall near the Ylang-Ylang River.
Around 18,000 families in Cavite were evacuated. Currently, at least P50 million worth of relief goods are being distributed to the victims of the natural calamity.
Meanwhile, President Marcos recognized that while the number of casualties was low, the damage caused by Typhoon Paeng to infrastructure was not.
He said there has to be a long-term plan to ensure that the same tragedy will not happen again.
"Inikot nnga namin yung mga flood control natin. Yung mga dike natin wala na. Na erode-erode na (We visited our flood control infrastructures. Our dikes have eroded already)," Marcos said.
"Yun ang dapat nating tignan na magkakaroon tayo ng plano na long term para kahit na lumakas ang tubig ng husto ay hindi nagguguho ang lupa at hindi na tayo inaabutan ng mga landslide (That is what we should look into-- a long-term plan so even if it's raining heavily, the land won't erode and we won't have a landslide)," he added.