Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his runningmate Sara Duterte Carpio delivered P2 million worth of assistance to Typhoon “Odette” victims in Negros Occidental on Monday, December 20.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said they brought P1 million worth of rice and P1 million in canned goods for the typhoon victims in the fifth and sixth districts of Negros Occidental that were the worst hit areas in the province.
He said 2,000 bags of additional aid for typhoon victims from Marcos and Carpio will also arrive on Wednesday, December 22.
Marcos and Carpio turned over the three truckloads of assistance to Ferrer at the Bacolod Silay Airport in the presence of several Negros Occidental mayors.
Luis “Chavit” Singson, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, said he gave the mayors present P50,000 each.
Marcos, who only made a brief stop at the airport, said he was not visiting typhoon-hit areas because he did not want to disturb the work of the government agencies in the field.
Carpio said they brought assistance to ease the loss and devastation experienced by the typhoon victims.
They were not scheduled to visit the typhoon-hit areas, she said.
Marcos said he was at the airport to deliver the goods and to find out what else is needed.
It appears that among the needs of the people is potable water so they are looking for filtration systems for the typhoon-hit areas, he said.
“We are doing everything that we can, that is why we are here,” he said, adding that the typhoon victims are in their thoughts and prayers.
Marcos, in reaction to the support of the majority of the local officials in Negros for him and Carpio, said it is very important to have the support, especially of incumbent officials, “that’s why we are very encouraged that we might do better, and have better results here than in the past”.
Although they are still working very hard in their campaign, “the support of the local leadership is very, very critical in any election, especially for national elections”, Marcos said.
Asked if he will support the revival of the Negros Island Region, Marcos said “they never really discussed it and I tend to think that maybe we have to restructure rather that recreate a new bureaucracy.”
Present at the airport during Marcos’ arrival were mayors Marxlen Dela Cruz – Don Salvador Benedicto, Mark Golez – Silay City, Nicholas Yulo – Bago City, Alejandro Mirasol -Binalbagan, Enrique Miravalles – Valladolid, Rhumyla Mangilimutan – La Castellana;
Ella Garcia-Yulo – Moises Padilla, Gerry Rojas – Murcia, Raymund Tongson -Himamaylan City, Jilson Tubillara – San Enrique, Marvin Malacon – E.B. Magalona, Renato Gustilo – San Carlos City, and vice mayors Narwin Javelosa – Sagay City and Mayor Renato Malabor Jr. – Isabela.*