BBM delivers aid to Marce-hit Cagayan, Ilocos

President Marcos brought various forms of assistance to areas hit by Typhoon Marce in Cagayan and his home province of Ilocos Norte yesterday, assuring the provinces of continuous support from the national government for their recovery needs.

-  HELEN FLORES

In the morning, the President was accompanied by his sons Simon and Vincent and several Cabinet secretaries in Buguey, Cagayan in the distribution of aid.

"Expect that as long as there is a need — what we do is, we do not say after one week, we will leave; after five days, we are leaving. As long as you need us here, we will stay here," the President said in a speech at the Doña Isabel Gymnasium in Buguey.

Also joining the President were Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Katrina Ponce Enrile, administrator and chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

Marcos ordered the immediate repair of school buildings and other infrastructure, and vowed to support the seafood industry in the province.

Buguey is considered the crab capital of North Luzon.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, distributed 1,800 food packs, while the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the National Irrigation Administration turned over 200 packs of 5-kilogram rice and 20 boxes of sardines and 1,000 packs of 10 kg rice, respectively.