President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. made his way to Bangued, Abra, on Thursday, July 28, and led the situation briefing on the effects of the destructive 7.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted parts of Northern Luzon.
Marcos' visit came a day after the earthquake hit parts of the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), leaving at least five deaths and affecting 4,969 families.
During the briefing, the President emphasized the need to restore power in affected areas and address possible water supply problems by procuring more water purifiers and making them immediately available.
He likewise ordered the immediate distribution of assistance to the families rendered homeless by the earthquake.
"I think we will just have to do as much as we can, as quickly as possible. That's going to be for our relief efforts, lahat ng gagawin natin (everything that we would do)," Marcos said.
"We have to be able to communicate, and we need to be able to operate," he added.
In particular, Marcos asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide financial assistance and meals to those who evacuated.
He also sought the distribution of tarpaulins for temporary makeshift shelters.
"Let's make sure that we are ready to support them and give them all they need," Marcos said.
The President also ordered the inspection of public buildings, particularly hospitals, clinics, and health centers, before government buildings.
He likewise tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the opening of roads affected by the earthquake. The DPWH reported that it had opened 85 percent of the affected roads.
Meanwhile, Marcos instructed national agencies to coordinate closely with the local government units (LGUs) to maximize resources.
"Listen to them they're the ones who have a fundamental responsibility to bring aid to our people," he said.
"We've covered as much as we can. We will continue to monitor, especially in the areas na wala pa tayong balita (where we haven't received news yet)," he added.