4 October 2024 | President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited communities affected by Super Typhoon “Julian” today to personally assess the needs of affected families and provide immediate humanitarian assistance.

During the visit, the President and Secretary Gatchalian met with families who suffered from the devastating effects of the typhoon, which significantly affected low-income households across the region most especially the Province of Ilocos Norte.  

“Hindi namin kayo pababayaan hangga’t nandito kami ay aalalay kami sa inyo (We will not leave you; as long as we are here, we will stand by your side and support you),” said President Bongbong Marcos.

A total of 10,588 target beneficiaries were identified to receive support in Laoag City, Piddig, Pagudpud, and Bangui through the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) for two days. Each family receives financial assistance with a total amount of PhP41,552,000.00 to help alleviate the financial burden caused by the disaster.

Moreover, the distribution of  family food packs (FFPs) to affected communities in Ilocos Norte is still ongoing, as the number of affected families continues to rise. Ilocos Norte now has the highest number of affected households in Region 1, with a total of 54,850 families, equivalent to 193,258 individuals.

“Nabasa iti uneg ti balay mi ta haan mi nga inexpect nga napigsa ken diretso ti tudo nga iyeg ni Bagyong Julian. Ti naawat mi nga tulong ket igatang mi iti mabalin nga maidulin nga taraon ta haan min kayat nga mapasamak nga awan iti magatangan mi, kasla idi kasagsagan ti Bagyong Julian. Atleast, nu kaspangarigan adda manen iti bagyo, sisasagana iti pamilya mi (We were caught off guard by the heavy, unrelenting rain brought by Super Typhoon Julian, and our house got wet inside as a result. The assistance we received will allow us to buy non-perishable food items, ensuring we wouldn’t face the same situation of not having anything to buy, like what happened during the Super Typhoon Julian. Now, if another storm comes, at least our family will be better prepared),” shared Gigi A. Vea, one of the AKAP beneficiaries from Gabu Sur, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

AKAP is a program of DSWD aimed at protecting the minimum wage earners under the category of low income category, such as those whose income does not exceed the statutory minimum wage.

The provision  of augmentation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to assist families affected by disasters and to promote resilience in vulnerable communities. The DSWD as the lead agency for response and early recovery during disaster, alongside local government units, will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional support as necessary. (by: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Information Officer II – Disaster Response Management Division)