PBBM promises agri rehab aid for Carina-hit Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

REHAB OF AFFECTED PROVINCES. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads a situation briefing for Bulacan, Bataan, and Pampanga at the Provincial Capitol Building in Malolos, Bulacan on Saturday (July 27, 2024). Marcos ordered the Department of Agriculture to provide assistance in the rehabilitation of the agriculture sector in the three provinces in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Carina-intensified southwest monsoon that ripped through most of Luzon on July 24. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide assistance in rehabilitating the agriculture sector of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan in the aftermath of the Super Typhoon Carina-intensified southwest monsoon that ripped through most of Luzon on July 24.

In a briefing in Malolos on Saturday, Marcos convened the local chief executives of the three provinces to assess the situation and check on their further needs while relief operations are ongoing in the region.

“In terms of the relief and rescue, I think we are alright. Now, we are talking about rehabilitation, the biggest – I think the three governors agree na ‘yong agri muna ang aayusin natin. ‘Yong infra (that we will focus first on agriculture. Then infrastructure), we will look at that also ,” he said.

Bulacan reported at least PHP103 million in losses to its agri-fisheries sector, while Pampanga and Bataan incurred PHP378 million and PHP92.92 million, respectively.

The combined effects of Carina and the “habagat” flooded at least 220 barangays in Pampanga, affecting more than 127,000 families.

In Bulacan, Governor Daniel Fernando said 100 percent, or 24 cities and municipalities, of the province were affected by flooding, with Meycauayan and Malolos the hardest hit.

Eleven out of the 12 municipalities and city in Bataan were also struck by floods, affecting at least 208,371 families.

“Na-assess na natin ‘yong majority ng nasira na kailangan bigyan kaagad ng tulong (We have already assessed the majority of damaged areas that need immediate attention). We’ll have to get determination from the DA as to what areas will go first na puwede nang padalhan ng tulong (that we will send aid to),” Marcos said.

This assistance, he said, could come in the form of equipment or provision of seedlings, fingerlings, and brood sow.

“We’ll move on now to the recovery at rehabilitation ng agriculture sector, infrastructure ganoon din pero hindi natin magagawa na immediate ‘yan (also in infrastructure, but we cannot work on that immediately),” he added.

Flood mitigation

Marcos underscored the need to build more water-impounding systems in Central Luzon to mitigate flooding during the rainy season.

Citing his various aerial inspections of affected provinces, the Chief Executive shared his observation that the water almost has nowhere to go.

“Mataas ‘yong tubig ng dagat. Mataas ‘yong tubig ng ilog. May baha pa doon sa mga farmlands (The sea water is high. The river water is high. There are still floods in the farmlands),” he noted.

“Ang laki ng bumaba na tubig, sabay sabay, bigla. Hindi na nakayanan ng ating mga slope protection, ng ating flood control, ng ating mga dike, so we have to find another way to do it. Kaya palagay ko ‘yong impounding talaga (The volume of water that came down, all at once, was huge. Our slope protections, our flood control, our dikes couldn’t handle it, so we have to find another way to do it. That’s why I think impounding is the best solution).”

Reporting on the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon and “habagat,” Fernando said Bulacan is ready to work with the national government for a permanent solution to the flooding in the region.

Fernando then informed Marcos about the programs of the provincial government to mitigate flooding, including its River Dredging and Restoration Program.

Aid ready

Cabinet members were present in the briefing to assure that relief is ready and available to all affected families.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said more than 250,000 relief packs were either delivered or awaiting pick-up for the typhoon victims in Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan.

The DSWD, he said, is also processing 247,000 additional requests in these provinces.

Gatchalian assured that the DSWD would coordinate with all affected LGUs for the provision of cash assistance to affected families.

“Once we get all of those (requests), we’ll evaluate them and figure out how to go, how to move forward, whether we use AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation), or the emergency cash transfer (ECT) that we use,” he said.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, on the other hand, said his department has earmarked PHP176 million for the TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers program in Central Luzon.

Of this amount, PHP62 million is allocated for Bulacan, Bataan, and Pampanga.

TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance to help provide emergency employment for displaced workers.

Some of the TUPAD beneficiaries were deployed to help the DSWD repack food items and to assist the Department of Public Works and Highways in its clearing operations.

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the agency would help ensure the mental and physical health of evacuees hit by the calamity.

He said health workers have been deployed to all evacuation centers across the region.

Herbosa said the DOH would also deploy “psychological first aid” teams for fisherfolk and farmers whose sources of income were destroyed by the typhoon.