Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the immediate delivery of potable water to families hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami) in Camarines Sur.
‘From my discussion with Governor Luigi Villafuerte this morning, they are okay with the food. Mr. President, their main concern was water. I know we did send the water purification systems pero nagkataon, Mr. President, na-ipit ho yung trucks sa Milaor kasi naputol ho ‘yung road na iyon, medyo baha pa ho (it so happened that the trucks were stranded in Milaor due to flooded roads),’ Gatchalian reported to President Marcos during the situational briefing through videoconference at the Field Office 5 Mobile Command Center in Naga City
‘As an action step, Mr. President, we spoke to Manila Water and Maynilad Water, and they have already provided us with quite a substantial number of those six-gallon containers and we are now working with the Philippine Air Force so we
can airlift these.
The DSWD chief was joined by Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion and Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado, who both talked to the President, too.
Gatchalian flew to Camarines Sur on orders of President Marcos.
After doing the rounds in the evacuation centers, Gatchalian instructed the Disaster Response Management Group, to contact the water concessionaires.
The Manila Water Foundation is expected to provide 400 pieces of five-gallon water containers, while Maynilad pledged to provide 2000 pieces of six-liter containers of potable water.
Gatchalian also assured Legacion of additional family food packs while the DSWD Bicol Field Office is set to distribute hygiene kits and more food boxes within the day.
Source: Philippines News agency
