PBBM LAUDS FIRST RESPONDERS, LGUS  IN GOVT’S POTENT ‘PEPITO’-MITIGATION DRIVE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. thanked all the first responders and the local government units (LGUs) that helped mitigate the impact of Super Typhoon Pepito over the weekend.

In a media interview on Monday, President Marcos lauded the first responders for “working hard as they can” despite being exhausted due to the spate of consecutive storms in the country.

“Kailangan pasalamatan natin lahat ng mga first responder, ‘yung mga LGU, lahat ng mga nagtatrabaho. Pang-anim na bagyo na nila ito,” the President told reporters during the 49th Philippine National Prayer Breakfast.

“I’m sure that they are exhausted. I am sure that they continue to do and work as hard as they can. Kaya’t tayo po’y nagpapasalamat sa kanila,” he added.

The President also acknowledged ordinary Filipinos for their vigilance and readiness against Pepito’s impact.

“At sa taumbayan din nagpapasalamat tayo. Sila ay tumutulong. Sinusundan nila ang ating mga bulletin tungkol sa kung anong kailangang gawin,” he added.

“Kahit papaano, sa lakas ni Pepito, ang epekto niya ay hindi naging kasing sama ng aming kinakatakutan. It wasn’t as bad as we feared,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Marcos lamented the report of a casualty in Camarines Norte.

“Well, we have been monitoring ‘Pepito’ all night. Unfortunately, I’m sorry and saddened to report that mayroon tayong casualty na isa sa Cam Norte,” the President said.

“And you know my feelings about that is that one casualty is one casualty too many. So, that is unfortunate,” he added.

PRAYER A POWERFUL TOOL TO WEATHER STORMS – MARCOS

Amid all disasters that hit the country, President Marcos said prayers are the most powerful tool for Filipinos to weather the storms.

“Our collective faith and prayer to the Almighty is the most powerful tool that we have to weather these storms and the destruction that they bring,” President Marcos said.

“True leadership, the kind that transforms people’s lives for the better, is guided by wisdom and is rooted in faith and in God,” the President said.

“And that’s why, Reverend, when I pray I only do two things in my prayers: I thank God for the blessings that we have already received and I pray that He continues to bless me with wisdom, with compassion, and with the love of our country that will be forever undying,” he said.

President Marcos also reminded everyone “that leadership demands accountability to a greater, much higher standard.”

President Marcos was also prayed over by various bishops.