MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised assistance to residents and local leaders in the Bicol region following the devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
Marcos traveled to Bicol on Saturday to assess the situation firsthand after the storm triggered severe flooding across the region.
Meeting evacuees at Naga City Hall alongside his cabinet and local officials, the President assured them that the government is fully engaged in response efforts.
“Dumaan lang po ako para makita ‘yong mga dala namin na tulong at lahat kayo na kailangang mag-evacuate dahil nakalubog pa ang ibang bahay ninyo,” Marcos said.
In a briefing, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion reported that floodwaters reached 12 feet in parts of the city, affecting 22 of its 27 barangays. “Unprecedented po ito first time na mangyari sa aming lungsod,” Legacion said.
“Sa ngayon 7 barangay na lang po ang baha. Yung ilang portion hanggang dibdib pa rin.”
Albay acting governor Gwen Ong Bongao shared that over 92,000 families were evacuated, with more than 500 houses destroyed.
Damage to infrastructure is estimated at P1.3 billion, while agricultural losses stand at around P10 million.
“We’re focused on recovery and rehabilitation, especially in Libon, where families need relocation,” Bongao said.
Local officials from Naga City and Albay have requested additional food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to aid affected residents.
“We’re okay, Mr. President. We’re just having to use our Cebu center na to fit into Bicol,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Marcos also instructed that fuel supplies be prioritized for hospitals. Witnessing the impact of the floods, he emphasized the need for sustainable flood control, particularly through revisiting the Bicol River Basin Project.
“We have to revisit it now. Iba na ang conditions ngayon,” Marcos remarked. “May flood control naman tayo eh. Pero hindi kaya yung ganitong kadaming tubig. Walang forecast na ganito eh. Ito Climate change talaga ito. This is all new.”
Naga City and Albay received P30 million and P50 million in financial aid, respectively, from the Office of the President.
According to the Office of the Civil Defense, 81 people were reported dead, with one confirmed in CALABARZON, 66 injured, and 34 missing, including one in Region 4-A.
“‘Yung for validation naman po natin we have 26 meaning ito po yung may verification na at ivavalidate na lang po ng ating [FTM] cluster either sa local po or dito po sa national… we have 26 deaths for validation, 20 injuries, and 4 missing po,” said OCD Spokesperson Edgar Posadas.