Amid the Criticisms, Malacañang Defends Pres. Bongbong Marcos on Cash Aid for Typhoon Victims
Malacañang defended President Bongbong Marcos over the government’s cash assistance for the typhoon victims citing the previous administration.
Many Filipino families lost their loved ones to the wrath of typhoon Tino which hit Cebu and Negros provinces hard. Sadly, there were even individuals who lost all their family members to the typhoon. It caused an unexpected flash flood that destroyed many homes.
In Cebu, many residents had to climb to the rooftop of their houses to escape from the floodwater as the level has reached the roof of the single-storey homes in many cities. Following the wrath of Typhoon Tino, Marcos Jr. apologized to all the victims of the typhoon and assured them of the help of the government. The victims whose houses got partially-damaged will receive P5,000 as initial assistance while those who totally lost their home to the calamity will get P10,000.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also gives out relief goods for the typhoon victims while medical assistance will be given to the injured individuals. However, the P5,000 and P10,000 cash assistance for the typhoon victims did not sit well with many Filipinos. It earned Marcos Jr. criticisms.
Recently, Malacañang spoke to defend Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from the criticisms over the P5,000 and P10,000 cash assistance from the government for the typhoon victims. Based on a post of ABS-CBN News, during a media conference, Palace press secretary Claire Castro stressed that there is no need to criticize.
Castro claimed that the P5,000 and the P10,000 cash assistance for the typhoon victims is an initial help from the government. According to the Malacañang official, it is the same amounts that the previous administration allegedly gave for the typhoon victims then.
“Hindi po kailangan batikusin dahil nung nakaraang administrasyon ganyan din po ang halaga na binigay na paunang tulong. Ito ay paunang tulong,” the Palace official said.
Malacañang press officer Claire Castro also pointed out that Pres. Marcos Jr. already gave P760 million for the areas affected by the typhoon. She stressed that the cash assistance are just initial help for the typhoon victims so they have something to utilize for their needs.
“Tandaan po natin ang Pangulo po ay nagbigay na po ng 760 million sa mga apektado na lugar na sinalanta ng Bagyong Tino at ang pagbigay po na’to ay pansamantala pong ibinibigay sa ating mga kababayan para mayroon po silang panggastos,” Castro said.
Furthermore, during the press con, Atty. Claire Castro also stressed that Pres. Ferdinand Marcos already explained that the efforts to help the typhoon victims is “ongoing”. According to her, the President’s help does not end with the mentioned assistance.
Many Filipinos died due to the massive flooding which triggered the flood control issue in the Philippines. Recently, actor Romnick Sarmenta expressed his two cents on the flood control issue and defended Marcos Jr.