Speaker Romualdez personally delivers aid to 'Egay' victims in Baguio
House Speaker Martin Romualdez touches base with victims of Super Typhoon "Egay" in Baguio City. (Speaker’s office)
True to his word, House Speaker Martin Romualdez personally joined on Friday, July 28 relief operations in the typhoon-stricken Baguio City in the province of Benguet. Romualdez made the promise to take part in the relief operations even before arriving home in the Philippines with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Thursday night from a three-day state visit to Malaysia. Super Typhoon "Egay" barreled through Northern provinces in the Philippines recently. Amid the weather, the Speaker travelled to Baguio to hand over cash assistance and P3 miilliin worth of relief goods to the offices of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Baguio City lone district Rep. Mark Go, and Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Go Yap. Romualdez said his decision to visit the affected provinces was also the result of Marcos' directive. "Ang utos ng Pangulo: siguruhin na nakakarating ang tulong ng gobyerno sa lahat ng naapektuhan ng Bagyong Egay (The President's order was to ensure that government assistance would be able to reach those affected by Typhoon Egay)," he said. The leader of the 312-strong House of Representatives also touched base with affected residents at Baguio Central School. “Galing po ang pondo sa personal nating kontribusyon at umaasa tayo na tutulong din ang mga kasama nating miyembro sa House of Representatives para madagdagan pa ito. Maliit na kontribusyon ko po ito sa hangarin ng gobyerno na mabigyan ang mabilis na ayuda ang mga naapektuhan ng kalamidad,” he said. (The funds came from my personal contribution and I hope that this will grow with the help of the members of the House of Representatives. This is my humble contribution to the government’s aim of providing quick assistance to the victims of this calamity.) Earlier, Romualdez and Tingog Party-list raised 218.85 million worth of relief goods and financial assistance specifically for Egay victims. Romualdez said that he is also coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the swift release of cash payouts under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. Tingog Party-list is represented in the House by Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.